The timing and duration of depressive symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood and young adults’ NEET status: the role of educational attainment

Abstract

Purpose Depressive symptoms are negatively associated with labour market outcomes but whether the timing and duration of depressive symptoms or educational attainment (EA) affect NEET (Neither in Employment, Education, nor Training) is unknown. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of timing and duration of depressive symptoms in adolescence and the moderating and mediating role of EA on NEET in young adulthood. Methods Data were used from 1512 participants in the Vestliv Study, a Danish prospective cohort study. Depressive symptoms were measured at age 14, 18 and 21. EA at age 21 and NEET at age 23 were derived from national registers. Logistic regression analyses and a 4-way decomposition approach were applied. Results Among boys, depressive symptoms at ages 14 and 21 increased the risk of NEET (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.00–2.74 and OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.37–3.53). Among girls, this regarded depressive symptoms at ages 18 and 21 (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.26–2.46 and OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.13–2.22). For the duration of depressive symptoms, among boys any depressive symptoms increased the risk of NEET. Among girls, only persistent depressive symptoms increased the risk of NEET. EA did not mediate or moderate the association between depressive symptoms and NEET. Conclusion The timing and duration of depressive symptoms in adolescence matter for the association with NEET in young adulthood, with a double burden for those with both depressive symptoms and low EA. The results emphasize the importance of support for those who experience depressive symptoms in the school-to-work transition.

Work functioning among young adults: the role of mental health problems from childhood to young adulthood

“…Recent research shows that mental health problems in childhood and adolescence have a negative impact on young adult employment status (eg, having a paid job or not). [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Previous studies mainly examined mental health problems in relation to young adults' employment status. Only a few examined the relationship between young adults with long duration mental health problems and employment status.…”

The role of low educational attainment on the pathway from adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems to early adult labour market disconnection in the Dutch TRAILS cohort

“…Similarly, in a study of Norwegian young people, self-reported conduct symptoms had a stronger effect on grade point average, years of schooling, and completion of upper-secondary education, than internalizing symptoms ( Evensen, 2019 ; Evensen et al, 2016 ). Moreover, Veldman et al (2022) showed that educational attainment did not mediate the relationship between adolescent depressive symptoms and NEET in early adulthood. The discrepancy between internalizing and externalizing symptoms may in part reflect the different social responses that internalizing and externalizing symptoms are met with in the school setting.…”

“…Due to both developmental sex differences and gendered norms and expectations for behaviour ( Martin & Hadwin, 2022 ), adolescent girls and young women tend to display higher levels of internalizing symptoms (characterized by inwardly focused symptoms like anxiety and depression), and boys and young men tend to display externalizing symptoms (characterized by externally focused behavioural symptoms such as aggression or oppositionality) ( Bongers et al, 2003 ; Rosenfield & Smith, 2010 ). While some studies have found stronger effects of distress or depression on NEET for boys than girls ( Henderson et al, 2017 ; Veldman et al, 2022 ), others show stronger effects for girls than boys ( Cornaglia et al, 2015 ). Still others have found evidence of gender-specific patterns, showing that internalizing symptoms are related to a higher likelihood of NEET for girls, whereas externalizing symptoms are more salient for boys ( Plenty et al, 2021 ).…”

“…A study of Swedish youth found using a series of multivariable regression models that upper secondary school completion mediated the relationship between internalizing symptoms at age 14–15 and NEET at age 21–22 for females, as well as the relationship between externalizing symptoms and NEET for males ( Plenty et al, 2021 ). A Danish study using effect decomposition to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and NEET at age 23 did not find evidence of a mediation effect for secondary school completion ( Veldman et al, 2022 ). In both studies, NEET was assessed at an age during which young people only begin to transition out of school.…”

Determinantes de la transición de la escuela al trabajo en Chile

“…Así, esta perspectiva comúnmente ha relacionado esta problemática con variables como las individuales y familiares. Por ejemplo, se han considerado relevantes cuestiones como el ingreso familiar, la composición familiar, el género, las responsabilidades de cuidado familiar, la discapacidad, los problemas de salud al largo plazo, entre otros (Rasalingam et al, 2021;Schoon, 2014;Veldman et al, 2022).…”