Can we explain increases in young people’s psychological distress over time?

Abstract

This paper aims to explain previously described increases in self-reported psychological distress between 1987 and 2006 among samples identical in respect of age (15 years), school year and geographical location (West of Scotland). Such increases might be explained by changes in exposure (changes in levels of risk or protective factors) and/or by changes in vulnerability (changes in the relationship between risk/protective factors and psychological distress). Key areas of social change over this time period allow identification of potential explanatory factors, categorised as economic, family, educational, values and lifestyle and represented by variables common to each study. Psychological distress was measured via the 12-item General Health Questionnaire, Likert scored. Analyses were conducted on those with complete data on all variables (N = 3276 of 3929), and separately for males and females. Between 1987 and 2006, levels of almost every potential explanatory factor changed in line with general societal trends. Associations between explanatory factors and GHQ tended to be stronger among females, and at the later date. The strongest associations were with worries, arguments with parents, and, at the later date, school disengagement. The factors which best accounted for the increase in mean GHQ between 1987 and 2006 were arguments with parents, school disengagement, worry about school and, for females, worry about family relationships, reflecting both increasing exposure and vulnerability to these risk factors. A number of limitations to our analysis can be identified. However, our results reinforce the conclusions of others in highlighting the role of family and educational factors as plausible explanations for increases in young people’s psychological distress.

Secular Trends in Depressive Symptoms Among Norwegian Adolescents from 1992 to 2010

“…Specifically, the rising number of children raised by one parent alone may be related to increases in psychosocial problems. However, two British studies did not find evidence for an association between the lower number of adolescents living with both biological parents and the higher rate of emotional problems and psychological distress seen between the 1980s and 2006 (Collishaw et al, 2010;Sweeting et al, 2010). On the other hand, time trends in other family variables, such as a growing number of reported arguments with parents and increased maternal stress, were associated with greater psychological distress in the UK from the 1980s through 2006 (Schepman et al, 2011;Sweeting et al, 2010).…”

“…However, in one British study, a series of indicators of family economy were not found to be related to time trends in psychological distress Secular trends in depressive symptoms 5 among adolescents (Sweeting et al, 2010). Finally, changes in adolescents' lifestyle, self-concept and values have been put forward as potential explanatory factors (Rutter & Smith, 1995;Sweeting et al, 2010). Thus far, one study has examined several such factors, including changes in religious behavior, youth culture, computer gaming, obesity, and worries about weight and looks (Sweeting et al, 2010).…”

“…Initial support for this notion has been provided by a study showing that increased disengagement from and worries about school were connected to changes in students' level of psychological distress over the period from 1987 to 2006 (Sweeting et al, 2010). Another explanation focuses on economy and the labor market, as changes in family finances and parents' participation in the work force may be related to adolescents' mental health (Rutter & Smith, 1995).…”

“…Another explanation focuses on economy and the labor market, as changes in family finances and parents' participation in the work force may be related to adolescents' mental health (Rutter & Smith, 1995). However, in one British study, a series of indicators of family economy were not found to be related to time trends in psychological distress Secular trends in depressive symptoms 5 among adolescents (Sweeting et al, 2010). Finally, changes in adolescents' lifestyle, self-concept and values have been put forward as potential explanatory factors (Rutter & Smith, 1995;Sweeting et al, 2010).…”

“…Finally, changes in adolescents' lifestyle, self-concept and values have been put forward as potential explanatory factors (Rutter & Smith, 1995;Sweeting et al, 2010). Thus far, one study has examined several such factors, including changes in religious behavior, youth culture, computer gaming, obesity, and worries about weight and looks (Sweeting et al, 2010). Aside from time trends in worries about weight and looks, which were moderately related to changes in psychological distress, none of the other factors contributed to explain time trends on this count.…”