Trends in social inequality in loneliness among adolescents 1991–2014

Madsen, Katrine Rich; Damsgaard, Mogens Trab; Rayce, Signe Boe; Jespersen, Louise Norman; Due, Pernille

doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdy133

Cited by 65 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(59 reference statements)

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“…The findings highlight the pivotal role of a lack of strong connection (parental, peer, and teacher support) as a risk to young people's mental well-being [20,21] as well as the potentially negative impact of SMU [16]. These findings are of concern in light of studies showing an increase in young people's feelings of loneliness [51] and studies highlighting the changing nature of young people's social relationships (e.g., more online [1]). Overall, results show the importance of contemporary risk factors in understanding young people's mental well-being.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…In addition, some of the correlations may have been significant, although small, because of the large sample size. Policy recommendations from the results include the need to assess multiple risks and to target the most salient risks for mental wellbeing, which include contemporary risks, such as problematic SMU [58] as well as lack of social support [20,51]. In conclusion, the results highlight the importance of contemporary clusters of risk, such as low social support and SMU in the mental well-being of young people and the need to focus on these as targets for prevention.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Clusters of Contemporary Risk and Their Relationship to Mental Well-Being Among 15-Year-Old Adolescents Across 37 Countries

Walsh

Sela²,

Looze

et al. 2020

Journal of Adolescent Health

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Clusters of Contemporary Risk and Their Relationship to Mental Well-Being Among 15-Year-Old Adolescents Across 37 Countries

Walsh

Sela²,

Looze

et al. 2020

Journal of Adolescent Health

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“…We also argue that future intervention work would do well to look at society-level variables that have been shown to influence loneliness among youth. For example, parents' low socioeconomic status has been shown to be associated with loneliness among youth (Madsen et al, 2019); parent-reported loneliness (Junttila & Vauras, 2009) is also an important predictor of youth loneliness. Neither have been used to target youth for intervention, but could prove important for prevention and intervention work.…”

Section: Modifying Riskmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review: Alleviating loneliness in young people – a meta‐analysis of interventions

Eccles

Qualter

2020

Child Adoles Ment Health

152

138

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Background Loneliness is common among youth and is associated with poor physical and mental health, and poor educational outcomes. To date, there have been no meta‐analyses of interventions aimed at reducing loneliness among young people. Methods We conducted meta‐analyses of single group and randomised control trials (RCTs) of studies published between 1980 and 2019, which measured loneliness as an outcome in youth ages 25 years or younger. Moderators, including sample demographics and intervention characteristics, that might affect intervention success, were examined. Results A total of 39 studies (14 single group and 25 RCTs) were included, and we found evidence that youth loneliness could be reduced via intervention. Moderator analysis – including intervention characteristics, study quality and sample demographics – was also examined. Conclusions While interventions were shown to reduce loneliness among youth, the interventions included in the meta‐analyses often targeted youth viewed to be at risk – for example those with health concerns – and rarely did the interventions target youth who reported loneliness. There is also no indication of whether youth experienced chronic or transient loneliness. In future work, interventions should be designed specifically for loneliness, with universal programmes helping youth manage their transient feelings of loneliness, and targeted interventions for those suffering from chronic loneliness. There is also a need to look at socioeconomic and other risk factors outside the individual for targeted interventions. Key Practitioner Message There have been no meta‐analyses that have evaluated the effect of interventions for reducing loneliness among children and adolescents. We found intervention programmes targeted at youth are successful at reducing loneliness. Future interventions should be designed specially with loneliness in mind, with (a) universal programmes to help youth manage their experiences of transient loneliness, and (b) targeted interventions for youth reporting chronic loneliness. They should also examine the longer‐term outcomes of the interventions. Future interventions should be designed, evaluated and then documented using guidelines on how to write up an intervention evaluation.

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“…The prevalence of loneliness in the adolescent population is increasing (Madsen et al, 2019) and several studies report associations with other psychological measures, in particular depressive symptoms (Cacioppo et al, 2010). Symptoms of loneliness was measured by asking the adolescents to rate, on a four-point scale ranging from "Not at all" (1) to "Very much" (4), whether they had "Felt lonely" during the last week.…”

Section: Lonelinessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in Socioeconomic Inequalities in Norwegian Adolescents’ Mental Health From 2014 to 2018: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study

et al. 2020

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Background: Adolescents' mental health, and its consistent relationship with their socioeconomic background, is a concern that should drive education, health, and employment policies. However, information about this relationship on a national scale is limited. We explore national overall trends and investigate possible socioeconomic disparities in adolescents' mental health, including psychological distress and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness in Norway during the period 2014-2018. Methods: The present study builds on data retrieved from five waves of the national cross-sectional Ungdata survey (2014-2018). In total 136,525 upper secondary school students (52% girls) completed the questionnaire during the study period. Trends in socioeconomic inequalities were assessed using the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Relative Index of Inequality (RII). Results: The prevalence of students with moderate to high symptoms score and mean symptoms scores of psychological distress (in terms of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness) increased among girls and boys during 2014-2018, with girls showing higher rates. Our results suggest distinct, but stable, inequalities between socioeconomic groups, both in absolute and relative terms, among girls and boys during the study period. Conclusion: Rising rates of adolescents' psychological distress, particularly among girls, may have long-term consequences for individuals involved and the society as a whole. Future studies should investigate the causes of these results. We did not find evidence of any change in inequalities in adolescents' mental health between socioeconomic groups, suggesting current strategies are not sufficiently addressing mental health inequalities in the adolescent population and therefore a significant need for research and public health efforts.

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Trends in social inequality in loneliness among adolescents 1991–2014

Abstract: The prevalence of loneliness increased from 1991 to 2014. The social inequality in loneliness decreased in both absolute and relative terms because of a rising prevalence of loneliness among children from high OSC.

Cited by 65 publications

References 42 publications

Clusters of Contemporary Risk and Their Relationship to Mental Well-Being Among 15-Year-Old Adolescents Across 37 Countries

Clusters of Contemporary Risk and Their Relationship to Mental Well-Being Among 15-Year-Old Adolescents Across 37 Countries

Review: Alleviating loneliness in young people – a meta‐analysis of interventions

Trends in Socioeconomic Inequalities in Norwegian Adolescents’ Mental Health From 2014 to 2018: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study

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