Psychological distress in late adolescence: The role of inequalities in family affluence and municipal socioeconomic characteristics in Norway

The present study aims to explore, in the national context of Norway, how municipal socioeconomic indicators affect anxiety and depressive symptom scores among senior high school students and whether this potential municipal effect is dependent on the adolescents’ family affluence levels. This cross-sectional study is based on questionnaire data collected in five waves (2014–2018) of the Ungdata survey. The study sample consisted of 97,460 adolescents aged 16–18 years attending high school in 156 municipalities in Norway. Measures of psychological distress, depression, and anxiety symptoms were based on the screening instrument, Hopkins Symptom Checklist-10. Two-level random intercept models were fitted to distinguish the individual and municipality sources of variation in adolescents’ mental health. In general, the results indicate substantial psychological symptom load among the study sample. Inequalities in adolescents’ psychological distress between family affluence groups were evident, with the lowest symptom loads in the most affluent families. The predicted depressive and anxiety symptoms among the students increased slightly along with the percentage of municipal residents with tertiary educations and with increasing income inequalities in their residential municipality. However, the interaction models suggest that the adverse effects of higher municipal education level and greater income inequality are, to a certain extent, steepest for adolescents with medium family affluence. This study highlights two key findings. Both municipality effects and family affluence account for a relatively small proportion of the total variance in the students’ psychological symptoms loads; however, the mental health inequalities we explored between socioeconomic strata on both the individual and municipal levels are not insignificant in a public health perspective. Results are discussed in the context of psychosocial mechanisms related to social comparison and perceptions of social status that may be applicable in egalitarian welfare states such as Norway.

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Co-Occurring Cyberbullying and School Bullying Victimization and Associations With Mental Health Problems Among Canadian Middle and High School Students

Violence and Victims ◽

10.1891/0886-6708.vv-d-16-00031 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 671-687 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Hugues Sampasa-Kanyinga

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

High School ◽

Middle School ◽

High School Students ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

School Bullying ◽

Bullying Victimization ◽

School Students

This study examined the associations between co-occurring cyberbullying and school bullying victimization with poor self-rated mental health, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation and attempts among 4,886 Canadian students in Grades 7–12 and tested whether these associations differed between middle and high school students. There are 12.2% of students who were victims of both cyberbullying and school bullying. After adjusting for covariates, victims of both cyberbullying and school bullying presented the highest odds of poor self-rated mental health (odds ratio [OR] = 5.02; 95% CI [3.75, 6.74]), psychological distress (OR = 5.91; 95% CI [4.38, 7.96]), and suicidal ideation (OR = 6.17; 95% CI [4.44, 8.56]) and attempts (OR = 7.68; 95% CI [3.95, 14.93]). These associations were stronger among middle-school youth than their high school counterparts. Results suggest that victims of both cyberbullying and school bullying may constitute the most vulnerable group and that there is a need for intervention programs addressing both forms of bullying simultaneously, particularly among middle school students.

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Mental health burden of high school students 1.5 years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria

10.31124/advance.17260130.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rachel Dale ◽

MMag. Dr. Andrea Jesser ◽

Teresa O´Rourke ◽

Thomas Probst ◽

Elke Humer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

High School ◽

High School Students ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Well Being ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

School Type ◽

School Students ◽

Health Burden

The COVID-19 pandemic and containment efforts seem to be particularly challenging for adolescents. This study assessed mental health in 14- to 20-year-old high school students 1.5 years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from 14th September 2021 to 14th November 2021. Well-being (WHO-5), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), anxiety symptoms (GAD-7) and sleep quality (ISI) were assessed. A total of 1505 adolescents participated (77.9% girls). The cut-off for clinically relevant depressive symptoms (i.e., PHQ-9 score, ≥11) was exceeded by 61.9% girls and 38.1% boys and 49.3% girls and 28.8% boys had clinically relevant anxiety symptoms (i.e., GAD-7 score, ≥11). Clinically relevant moderate insomnia (i.e., ISI score, ≥15) was reported by 27.5% girls and 16.7% boys. The prevalence of suicidal ideation (item 9 of the PHQ-9) within the last 2 weeks was 46.8% in girls and 32.0% in boys. These data collected in autumn 2021 (at the start of the second semester of reopened schools; t2) were compared to data collected in February 2021 (one semester after almost exclusively remote schooling; t1). A matched pairs analysis according to age, gender, region, school type and migration background resulted in a total sample size of N = 2514 adolescents (70.1% females). Results showed small reduction in mental health (i.e., well-being, depressive symptoms, insomnia, suicidal ideation) in girls at t2 compared to t1, and an increase in suicidal thoughts in boys (all p-values <0.05). Results suggest that mental health burden in adolescents remained high 1.5 years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight the need to implement timely psychological support.

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Physical activity and sport participation among adolescents: associations with mental health in different age groups. Results from the Young-HUNT study: a cross-sectional survey

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028555 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. e028555 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Maren Hjelle Guddal ◽

Synne Øien Stensland ◽

Milada Cvancarova Småstuen ◽

Marianne Bakke Johnsen ◽

John-Anker Zwart ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

High School ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

High School Students ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Sport Participation ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Population Based ◽

Senior High School ◽

School Students

ObjectivesKnowledge of how physical activity (PA) and sport participation are related to mental health throughout adolescence is scarce. Our objective was to describe PA levels and sport participation in a population-based sample of adolescents, and to explore how they relate to mental health in different age groups.DesignA population-based cross-sectional study.Setting and participantsThe adolescent part of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study, a Norwegian population-based health survey, conducted from 2006 to 2008. Of 10 464 invited participants (age 13–19 years), 7619 (73%) participated, of whom 3785 (50%) were boys.Outcome measuresMental health outcomes included psychological distress assessed using a short version of the Hopkins Symptom Check List Five items, self-esteem assessed using a short version of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and life satisfaction assessed with a single-item satisfaction with life measure.MethodLogistic regression models were used to estimate the likelihood of psychological distress, low self-esteem and low life satisfaction, according to self-reported PA level and type of sport participation, stratified by gender and school level (junior vs senior high school).ResultsFewer senior high school students participated in team sports compared with junior high school students (p<0.001). Physically active adolescents and participants in team sports had higher self-esteem and life satisfaction. A high PA level, compared with a low PA level, was associated with reduced odds of psychological distress among senior high school students (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.86 for girls and OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.79 for boys). Team sport participation was associated with reduced odds of psychological distress in senior high school girls.ConclusionA high PA level was favourably associated with various dimensions of mental health, especially for adolescents in senior high school. Team sport participation may have a positive impact on mental health and should, therefore, be encouraged.

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Exploring the Association Between Sport Participation and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in a Sample of Canadian High School Students

Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology ◽

10.1123/jcsp.2020-0048 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-20

Author(s):

Jessica Murphy ◽

Karen A. Patte ◽

Philip Sullivan ◽

Scott T. Leatherdale

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

High School ◽

High School Students ◽

Sport Participation ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

School Students ◽

Behavior Study

The mental health benefits of physical activity may relate more to the context of the behavior, rather than the behavior of being active itself. The association between varsity sport (VS) participation, depression, and anxiety symptoms was explored using data from 70,449 high school students from the Cannabis use, Obesity, Mental health, Physical activity, Alcohol use, Smoking, and Sedentary behavior study. The model adjusted for potential covariates; interactions by sex and participation in outside of school sport (OSS) were explored. Overall, 70% and 24% of respondents met or exceeded cutoff values for depression and anxiety, respectively. Students participating in VS had lower symptoms of anxiety and depression compared with nonparticipants. Results were consistent regardless of OSS participation; associations were strongest among students who participated in both VS and OSS and males. Participation in VS may prove beneficial for the prevention and/or management of depression or anxiety symptoms, particularly among males. An additive beneficial effect of OSS on depression and anxiety scores may exist.

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Mental health burden of high school students 1.5 years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria

10.31124/advance.17260130 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rachel Dale ◽

MMag. Dr. Andrea Jesser ◽

Teresa O´Rourke ◽

Thomas Probst ◽

Elke Humer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

High School ◽

High School Students ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Well Being ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

School Type ◽

School Students ◽

Health Burden

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Stability of High School Students' Mental Health in a Dual-Factor Model

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e648772012-001 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Melanie M. Mcmahan ◽

Shannon M. Suldo ◽

Ashley Chappel ◽

Lisa Bateman

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

High School ◽

High School Students ◽

Factor Model ◽

School Students

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The Influence of Participation in Post-school Physical Education Program on Physical Self-Concepts and Mental Health in High School Students

The Korean Journal of Growth and Development ◽

10.34284/kjgd.2019.11.27.4.347 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 347-354

Author(s):

Sang-Jin Lee

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

High School ◽

High School Students ◽

Physical Education ◽

Education Program ◽

School Students

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Relationship Between Different Types of Violence and Mental Health in High School Students From Northern Mexico

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/08862605211021964 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088626052110219

Author(s):

Oscar Armando Esparza-Del Villar ◽

Sarah Margarita Chavez-Valdez ◽

Priscila Montañez-Alvarado ◽

Marisela Gutiérrez-Vega ◽

Teresa Gutiérrez-Rosado

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

High School ◽

High School Students ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Health Indicators ◽

School Students ◽

Social Violence ◽

Different Types ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

Different types of violence have been present in Mexico but there have been few studies that have analyzed their relationship with mental health in adolescents, especially in cities with high rates of social violence. It is important to compare different violence types and their relationship with mental health since not all relationships are the same. It appears that social violence has a stronger relationship with mental health, and for this reason it receives more attention, but other types of violence have a stronger relationship and do not receive as much attention. Chihuahua has been one of the most violent states in Mexico, and Juarez has been the most violent city in the world in 2009 and 2010. The purpose of the study is to compare the relationship of different types of violence (social, cyberbullying, partner violence, and child abuse and neglect) with mental health indicators (depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and paranoid thoughts). There were 526 high school students, from the cities of Juarez ( n = 282) and Chihuahua ( n = 244). The mean age was 16.5 ( SD = 1.4) years and 50.6% reported being males. The relationships among the variables were analyzed using Pearson’s correlations and multiple linear regressions. Both cities that have experienced social violence like carjacking, kidnapping, and sexual assault, but they have very small or no relationships with mental health indicators. Other types of violence have stronger correlations. Our findings suggest that interventions should not focus only in preventing and dealing with social violence, but that other types of violence must also be addressed in adolescents.

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