Trajectories of psychotic-like experiences in youth and associations with lifestyle factors

Rebecca Cooper; Els van der Ven; Maria Jalbrzikowski

doi:10.1111/jcpp.14179

Trajectories of psychotic-like experiences in youth and associations with lifestyle factors

Rebecca Cooper
, Els van der Ven
, Maria Jalbrzikowski

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Persistent and/or distressing psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) during adolescence are associated with poorer subsequent psychiatric outcomes. Modifiable lifestyle factors (such as sleep quality or regular exercise) may improve mental health outcomes; however, it is unknown how lifestyle factors are linked to trajectories of PLEs.

METHODS: Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (N = 10,075, age 9-10 years at baseline), we characterized trajectories of PLEs using latent growth mixture models assessed using the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief Child Version. We examined trajectories of Total and Distress scores. We used multinomial logistic regressions to examine associations between baseline lifestyle behaviors (including self-reported screen time, physical activity and caffeine intake, and parent-reported sleep disturbances and recreational activities) and PLE trajectories.

RESULTS: We identified four trajectories of distress-related PLEs: No Distress (27%), Rapid Decreasing (17%), Gradual Decreasing (36%), and Persistent Elevated Distress (21%). Compared with the No Distress trajectory, individuals in the Persistent Elevated Distress trajectory spent more time using screens (adjusted Odds Ratio [OR] 2.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.03-2.53), had higher caffeine intake (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.28-2.04), greater sleep disturbance (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.45-1.73), participated in fewer recreational activities (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68-0.83) and less frequent physical activity (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.74-0.89). Greater screen time and sleep disturbances further distinguished the most severe group from all other trajectories. Findings were similar when examining total scores. Results remained statistically significant when we included established risk factors of psychosis in each model.

CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle factors associate with trajectories of PLE-related distress, providing novel tools for intervention and risk prediction.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	5-16
Number of pages	12
Journal	Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Volume	67
Issue number	1
Early online date	29 Jul 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.14179
Publication status	Published - Jan 2026

Bibliographical note

Funding

Data used in the preparation of this article were obtained from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study ( https://abcdstudy.org ), held in the NIMH Data Archive (NDA). This is a multisite, longitudinal study designed to recruit more than 10,000 children age 9\u201310 and follow them over 10\u2009years into early adulthood. The ABCD Study\u00AE is supported by the National Institutes of Health and additional federal partners under award numbers U01DA041048, U01DA050989, U01DA051016, U01DA041022, U01DA051018, U01DA051037, U01DA050987, U01DA041174, U01DA041106, U01DA041117, U01DA041028, U01DA041134, U01DA050988, U01DA051039, U01DA041156, U01DA041025, U01DA041120, U01DA051038, U01DA041148, U01DA041093, U01DA041089, U24DA041123, U24DA041147. A full list of supporters is available at https://abcdstudy.org/federal\u2010partners.html . A listing of participating sites and a complete listing of the study investigators can be found at https://abcdstudy.org/consortium_members/ . ABCD consortium investigators designed and implemented the study and/or provided data but did not necessarily participate in the analysis or writing of this report. This manuscript reflects the views of the authors and may not reflect the opinions or views of the NIH or ABCD consortium investigators. The ABCD data repository grows and changes over time. The ABCD data used in this report came from Data Release 5.1 (DOI 10.15154/z563\u2010zd24 ). The DOI for this study can be found at 10.15154/2q2s\u2010vq77 . The authors wish to thank Dr. Kathryn Roeder, PhD, for her guidance on statistical analysis. RC was supported by the Tommy Fuss Center for Neuropsychiatric Disease Research Fellowship Award. EVDV was supported by a Veni grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (09150161910016). MJ was supported by the National Institutes of Mental Health (R01MH129636) and the Tommy Fuss Center for Neuropsychiatric Research Next Generation Award.

Funders	Funder number
National Institutes of Health	U01DA051039, U01DA051016, U01DA051038, U01DA051018, U01DA051037, U01DA041117, U01DA041106, U01DA041028, U24DA041147, U01DA041148, U01DA041048, U01DA041025, U24DA041123, U01DA041134, U01DA041156, U01DA041089, U01DA041022, U01DA041120, U01DA041174, U01DA050987, U01DA050988, U01DA050989, U01DA041093
National Institute of Mental Health	R01MH129636
ZonMw	09150161910016

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Child Psychology Psychiatry - 2025 - Cooper - Trajectories of psychotic‐like experiences in youth and associations withFinal published version, 662 KBLicence: Article 25fa Dutch Copyright Act

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title = "Trajectories of psychotic-like experiences in youth and associations with lifestyle factors",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Persistent and/or distressing psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) during adolescence are associated with poorer subsequent psychiatric outcomes. Modifiable lifestyle factors (such as sleep quality or regular exercise) may improve mental health outcomes; however, it is unknown how lifestyle factors are linked to trajectories of PLEs.METHODS: Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (N = 10,075, age 9-10 years at baseline), we characterized trajectories of PLEs using latent growth mixture models assessed using the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief Child Version. We examined trajectories of Total and Distress scores. We used multinomial logistic regressions to examine associations between baseline lifestyle behaviors (including self-reported screen time, physical activity and caffeine intake, and parent-reported sleep disturbances and recreational activities) and PLE trajectories.RESULTS: We identified four trajectories of distress-related PLEs: No Distress (27\%), Rapid Decreasing (17\%), Gradual Decreasing (36\%), and Persistent Elevated Distress (21\%). Compared with the No Distress trajectory, individuals in the Persistent Elevated Distress trajectory spent more time using screens (adjusted Odds Ratio [OR] 2.27, 95\% confidence interval [CI] 2.03-2.53), had higher caffeine intake (OR 1.62, 95\% CI 1.28-2.04), greater sleep disturbance (OR 1.58, 95\% CI 1.45-1.73), participated in fewer recreational activities (OR 0.75, 95\% CI 0.68-0.83) and less frequent physical activity (OR 0.81, 95\% CI 0.74-0.89). Greater screen time and sleep disturbances further distinguished the most severe group from all other trajectories. Findings were similar when examining total scores. Results remained statistically significant when we included established risk factors of psychosis in each model.CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle factors associate with trajectories of PLE-related distress, providing novel tools for intervention and risk prediction.",

author = "Rebecca Cooper and \{van der Ven\}, Els and Maria Jalbrzikowski",

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doi = "10.1111/jcpp.14179",

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Trajectories of psychotic-like experiences in youth and associations with lifestyle factors

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