Dataset Information

Socioeconomic disparities in adolescent anxiety and depression in Finland have not increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

The purpose of this research was to assess whether socioeconomic disparities in adolescent depression and anxiety in Finland increased among middle adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Repeated cross-sectional surveys (the School Health Promotion Study) from spring 2019 and spring 2021 were compared. The respondents were 87,283 eighth and ninth graders (14-16-year-olds) in 2019 and 91,560 in 2021, corresponding respectively to 73% and 75% of the age groups. Depression was measured by Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), and anxiety with GAD-7, and adverse socioeconomic background using low parental education, not living with both parents, and family's poor financial situation. Associations of socioeconomic adversities with depression and generalised anxiety, and the effect of COVID-19 (2021 vs 2019), were analysed using logistic regression.

Results

Depression and anxiety were more common in both sexes the more sociodemographic adversities there were in the adolescent's background. However, increases in the prevalence of anxiety and depression from pre- to in-pandemic time did not differ with accumulating sociodemographic adversities.

Conclusions

Depression and anxiety increased in prevalence among Finnish adolescents during the pandemic. Sociodemographic disparities in depression and anxiety show no increase. Emotional symptoms are nevertheless more common in adolescents from lower socioeconomic status families.

SUBMITTER: Kaltiala R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10125881 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Socioeconomic disparities in adolescent anxiety and depression in Finland have not increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kaltiala Riittakerttu R Aalto-Setälä Terhi T Kiviruusu Olli O

Scandinavian journal of public health 20230423 5

<h4>Aims</h4>The purpose of this research was to assess whether socioeconomic disparities in adolescent depression and anxiety in Finland increased among middle adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.<h4>Methods</h4>Repeated cross-sectional surveys (the School Health Promotion Study) from spring 2019 and spring 2021 were compared. The respondents were 87,283 eighth and ninth graders (14-16-year-olds) in 2019 and 91,560 in 2021, corresponding respectively to 73% and 75% of the age groups. Depre ...[more]

PMID: 37088988

Similar Datasets

Project description:ImportanceHigh levels of anxiety and depression were documented shortly after the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and were more prevalent in younger adults than in older adults. Knowing whether these age disparities persisted throughout multiple years of the COVID-19 pandemic and identifying associated factors will help guide health policy.ObjectiveTo investigate age disparities in anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional study consisted of a nationally representative online survey administered between April 2020 and August 2022 and included US adults who were not incarcerated. Data were analyzed between March and September 2022.ExposuresThe first 27 months of the COVID-19 pandemic included wide variation in infection rates, turbulence in US political and social life, and geopolitical instability. Primary exposures include individuals' age and economic precarity and pandemic-related events (eg, weekly state-level case counts and individual vaccination status).Main outcomes and measuresSymptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed via responses to 2-item screeners (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item for anxiety and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 for depression). An individual's symptoms were identified as clinically elevated if scores exceeded validated thresholds.ResultsThis study included 3 028 923 respondents (mean [SD] age, 48.9 [17.0] years; 1 567 603 [51.8%] female). In multiple regression analyses that include state fixed effects and survey-week fixed effects, likely anxiety and depressive disorders among 291 382 (40%) and 238 505 (33%) of adults aged 18 to 39 years, respectively, compared with 357 820 (31%) and 274 534 (24%) of adults aged 40 to 59 years and 225 295 (20%) and 183 695 (16%) adults aged 60 years and older. Levels declined throughout the pandemic period for those aged 40 years and older but remained elevated for younger adults. Analyses identified several associated factors of these age disparities. Younger adults' anxiety and depression increased more than older adults' after surges in COVID-19 case counts but decreased less following vaccination against the virus. Additionally, approximately one third of the age gap among individuals with depression and anxiety was attributed to economic precarity, to which younger adults are disproportionately exposed.Conclusions and relevanceIn this cross-sectional study of anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, economic precarity was associated with high anxiety and depression among younger adults in the US compared with older adults in the US. These findings suggest a need for greater mental health care and economic policies targeted toward younger adults.

Dataset Information

Socioeconomic disparities in adolescent anxiety and depression in Finland have not increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aims

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Socioeconomic disparities in adolescent anxiety and depression in Finland have not increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Similar Datasets

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