Exploring changing trends in depression and anxiety among adolescents from 2012 to 2019: Insights from My World repeated cross-sectional surveys

Amanda Fitzgerald, Ciara Mahon, M Shevlin, Barbara Dooley, Aileen O'Reilly

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Abstract

Aim
Research has indicated a rise in the prevalence of depression and anxiety among adolescents over the past three decades. However, the factors underpinning increases in mental health difficulties remain poorly understood. This study examines psychological, social and environmental risk and protective factors that may explain changes in depression and anxiety among adolescents.

Methods
Data were taken from two nationally representative My World Surveys of adolescents aged 12–19 years in 2012 (N = 5,490) and 2019 (N = 9,844). Survey data on depression and anxiety and a range of potential risk (e.g., alcohol use, psychotic symptoms) and protective factors (e.g., resilience, self-esteem) were assessed at both time points. Multiple group analyses assessed whether the predictive ability of risk/protective factors changed from wave 1 to wave 2.

Results
Results showed that the prevalence of depression and anxiety increased significantly between 2012 and 2019, particularly among females. Predictors accounted for between 37% and 61% of the variance in outcomes across waves. While some risk/protective factors were consistent predictors of depression and anxiety at both waves (e.g., bullying, discrimination, optimism), reporting female gender and having higher formal help-seeking tendencies more strongly predicted anxiety at wave 2, while lower self-esteem and lower resilience (personal competence) strongly predicted both depression and anxiety at wave 2.

Conclusion
Findings highlight the need to prioritize adolescent mental health service provision, especially in females. Self-esteem and resilience are potentially important targets for supporting adolescent mental health. Further research is required to understand the causal factors associated with increases in anxiety and depression.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere13562
Pages (from-to)1-11
Number of pages11
JournalEarly Intervention in Psychiatry
Volume19
Issue number1
Early online date2 Jul 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 31 Jan 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Early Intervention in Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Data Access Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Keywords

  • adolescent
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • protective factors
  • risk factors
  • Anxiety/epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Risk Factors
  • Male
  • Protective Factors
  • Young Adult
  • Depression/epidemiology
  • Self Concept
  • Adolescent
  • Female
  • Resilience, Psychological
  • Child

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