A University of Gothenburg study finds increasing extremes in mental health among Swedish teens, with more adolescents reporting both high and low levels of well-being.
Teenagers in Sweden are experiencing widening extremes in mental well-being, according to a recent study from the University of Gothenburg. The research, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, compared depressive symptoms in adolescents from 2004 and 2019-2020, uncovering significant shifts in self-reported mental health.
Rising Reports of Both High and Low Mental Well-Being
Although there is a moderate rise in the overall proportion of adolescents reporting depressive symptoms from 21% in 2004 to 29% in 2019-2020, the most striking change is the increase in both the high and low ends of mental well-being.
In the 2019-2020 group, 33% of teenagers reported experiencing very low depressive symptoms, compared to just 15% in the 2004 cohort. Yet, those struggling with mental health issues now rate their symptoms much higher, indicative of severe self-deprecating thoughts and negative moods.
“Those who report high levels of depressive symptoms today rate themselves significantly higher than those in previous cohorts. We also see notable increases in certain areas, particularly self-deprecation—something that primarily affects young women,” Carl Wikberg, district nurse and adjunct senior lecturer in community medicine and public health at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, said in a news release.
Deepening Despair but Emerging Hope
The study utilized the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) to measure various aspects of mental well-being, such as negative mood, self-esteem, ineffectiveness and interpersonal problems.
Alarmingly, statements from the 2019-2020 group reveal a concerning depth of self-loathing, with many teens resonating strongly with phrases like “Nothing is fun at all,” “I am bad all the time” and “I can never be as good as other kids.”
“The fact that some young people report strong self-loathing is concerning and can make us feel despair. However, there is also hope: we are seeing a larger proportion of adolescents at the very lowest end of the scale, meaning their mental well-being has improved. So, the trend is not entirely negative,” added Wikberg.
Understanding the Broader Impact
The researchers attribute these changes partly to the evolving public discourse surrounding mental health, which may influence how young people report their well-being. Greater societal openness and decreased stigma toward mental health issues might have encouraged adolescents to be more forthcoming about their struggles.
The study, incorporating 617 adolescents from 2019-2020 as part of a broader depression research project, underlines the critical role of school health services and primary care in identifying and supporting at-risk youth. Early screening through tools like the CDI can be pivotal in detecting those in need and providing timely interventions.
Source: University of Gothenburg