Trends in adolescent emotional problems in Wales between 2013 and 2019

The contribution of peer relationships

Bibliographic Data

ID21344802
AuthorsRebecca Anthony (0000-0001-9503-9562, Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health Cardiff University Cardiff UK, corresponding author), Graham Moore (0000-0002-6136-3978, Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health Cardiff University Cardiff UK), Nicholas Page (0000-0002-4671-2797, Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer), School of Social Sciences Cardiff University Cardiff UK), Catherine Ollerhead (Cardiff University School of Medicine Cardiff University Cardiff UK), Jack Parker (0000-0003-4684-7330, Cardiff University School of Medicine Cardiff University Cardiff UK), Simon Murphy (0000-0003-3589-3681, Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health Cardiff University Cardiff UK), Frances Rice (0000-0002-9484-1729, Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health Cardiff University Cardiff UK), J M Armitage (0000-0002-0929-9956, Cardiff University), Stephan Collishaw (0000-0002-4296-820X, Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health Cardiff University Cardiff UK)
Year2024
Volume65
Issue7
Pages887-898
Publication date2024-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9630 • E-ISSN: 1469-7610
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jcpp.13924
PMID38083987
OpenAlexW4389608311
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited52

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological evidence shows a substantial increase in adolescent emotional problems in many countries, but reasons for this increase remain poorly understood. We tested change in emotional problems in a national sample of young people in Wales in 2013, 2017 and 2019 using identical symptom screens, and examined whether trends were accounted for by changes in youth friendship quality and bullying. METHODS: The present study of 230,735 11-16-year olds draws on repeat cross-sectional data obtained on three occasions (2013, 2017 and 2019) in national school-based surveys in Wales (conducted by the School Health Research Network). Emotional problems were assessed with a brief validated symptom screen (the SCL-4). RESULTS: There was a significant increase in emotional problem scores between 2013 and 2019 (b[95% CI] = 1.573 [1.380, 1.765]). This increase was observed for all ages and was more pronounced for girls than boys (interaction b [95% CI] = 0.229 [0.004, 0.462]) and for young people from less affluent families (interaction b [95% CI] = -0.564[-0.809, -0.319]). Of the total sample, 14.2% and 5.7% reported frequent face-to-face and cyberbullying respectively. There were modest decreases in friendship quality and increases in rates of bullying between 2013 and 2019, but accounting for these changes did not attenuate estimates of the population-level increase in emotional problems. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of a substantial increase in emotional problems among young people in Wales, particularly for young people from less affluent backgrounds. Changes in bullying or friendship quality did not explain this increase

Adolescent health · Developmental psychology · Friendship · Population · Young adult · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Epidemiology · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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