Risk and protective factors for psychological distress among adolescents: a family study in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study

Abstract

Academic achievement and being bullied at school were the psychosocial factors most strongly associated with psychological distress among adolescents. Parental factors had an indirect effect on adolescent psychological distress, through adolescents' psychosocial factors.

Epidemiology of Psychological Distress

“…Thus the impression of failing in the role of students affects the psychological well-being of adolescents. Being bullied at school (Myklestad, Roysamb, and Tambs 2011) and family conflict (Wilkinson-Lee et al 2011, Ystgaard, Tambs, andDalgard 1999) increase the mean level of distress in both girls and boys although when detailed stressful situations are taken into account family conflicts seem to affect girls more than boys (Ystgaard, Tambs, and Dalgard 1999). Parental divorce seems to have a stronger effect in adolescent girls; time lapse since divorce does not appear to modify the association with distress (Storksen et al 2006).…”

“…Two characteristics of the prevalence of psychological distress are noteworthy: the widespread gender difference and the variation over the lifespan. The prevalence of psychological distress is higher in women than in men in most countries (Caron and Liu 2011, Jorm et al 2005, Phongsavan et al 2006) and in all age groups (Cairney and Krause 2005, Darcy and Siddique 1984, Myklestad, Roysamb, and Tambs 2011, Paul, Ayis, and Ebrahim 2006, Storksen et al 2006, Walters, McDonough, and Strohschein 2002. Yet this gender difference is not universal.…”

“…Some factors are not considered in this summary of the epidemiology of distress either because the evidence is lacking or because they are usually interpreted in terms of social and economic factors that can be assessed more directly. Health behaviour such as smoking and alcohol intake are associated with increased odds and mean level of distress (Chittleborough et al 2011, Kuriyama et al 2009, , Myklestad, 2011Phongsavan et al 2006) but the interpretation of this association is awkward. Smoking and alcohol may be a form of selfmedication to dilute the burden of distress but they may also generate some distress.…”

“…For seniors, chronic stress, recent life events and childhood trauma emerge as major risk factors for psychological distress (Cairney and Krause 2005). For adolescents, stress related to academic performance increases the odds of psychological distress (Darcy and Siddique 1984, Myklestad, Roysamb, and Tambs 2011, Ystgaard, Tambs, and Dalgard 1999 but there is some evidence that this type of stress may be more detrimental for girls than for boys. Thus the impression of failing in the role of students affects the psychological well-being of adolescents.…”

Demographic and psychological predictors of grade point average (GPA) in North-Norway: a particular analysis of cognitive/school-related and literacy problems

“…Poor mental health contributes to lower educational achievements as well as school drop-out (Myklestad, Roysamb, & Tambs, 2012;Patel, Flisher, Hetrick, & McGorry, 2007), and subsequently to later problems with unemployment and granting of medical benefits (Pape, Bjorngaard, Westin, Holmen, & Krokstad, 2011;Pape, Bjørngaard, Holmen, & Krokstad, 2012). As mental health problems may go unnoticed for years (Patel et al, 2007), associated comorbid health conditions or unhealthy life-style behaviours may evolve and further exacerbate the risk of poor achievement and dropping out of school.…”