Background Previous research has established an association between early pubertal timing and depression in girls, however, less is known about this association in boys. This may be due to the use of subjective measures of pubertal timing in boys, with studies being more sparse and yielding conflicting results. Additionally, the majority of studies in boys are limited to mid adolescence, with few examining long-term associations. This study aimed to examine the association between pubertal timing and depression in boys during adolescence and young adulthood, utilising objectively measured indicators of pubertal timing.

Methods The sample (N = 6,446 males) was drawn from a UK birth cohort (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children – ALSPAC). Seven indicators of pubertal timing were derived from repeated data on growth and development from ages 7 to 17 years (age at: peak height velocity, peak weight velocity, peak bone mineral content velocity, Tanner stage 3 pubic hair, Tanner stage 3 genitalia, axillary hair and voice break). Each measure was categorised into ‘early’, ‘on-time’ and ‘late’. Presence of depressive symptoms were assessed at ages 14 and 18 using the Short Moods and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ). Depression was measured at age 18 using the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) according to the ICD-10 criteria. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between the multiple indicators of pubertal timing and depressive symptoms/depression, adjusted for socioeconomic status (SES) and pre-pubertal body mass index (BMI).

Results Compared to males with normative pubertal development, the odds of depression at age 18 were higher in those with early age at peak height velocity (OR: 2.06; 95% CI 1.27–3.34), early age at peak weight velocity (OR: 2.10; 95% CI 1.16–3.79) and early age at Tanner genitalia stage 3 (OR: 1.81; 95% CI 1.01–3.26). There was no evidence that pubertal timing (earlier or later) was associated with depressive symptoms at 14 or 18.

Conclusion We found evidence that early pubertal timing in boys is associated with depression at age 18 but not depressive symptoms at age 14 or 18. The inconsistency in the results at age 18 may be explained by potential masking of symptoms when measuring depressive symptoms via the SMFQ compared to the ICD-10 diagnosis of depression captured by the CIS-R. The inconsistency in results across pubertal timing measures may be due to differences in measurement accuracy. Future cohort studies should consider utilising objective, repeated measures of pubertal timing in both sexes.