research
On this page, we highlight and summarize some of the most important recent studies on child and adolescent mental health.
Socioeconomic status, stressful life situations and mental health problems in children and adolescents: Results of the German BELLA cohort-study [2019]
F Reiss F, A-K Meyrose, C Otto , T Lampert, F Klasen, U Ravens-Sieberer
This 2019 study found that socio-economic status and stressful life situations separately and significantly predicted children’s mental health problems. It also found that children with more educated parents had fewer mental health problems in stressful life situations.
Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health in Adolescents: A Systematic Review [2021]
Elizabeth A. K. Jones, Amal K. Mitra, and Azad R. Bhuiyan
This 2021 review examines several studies from around the world, which sought to identify impacts of COVID-19 on adolescent mental health. It found an increase in depression in adolescents during COVID-19, and also identified an increase in substance use, including drugs and alcohol, among adolescents during the pandemic. Interestingly, none of the studies reviewed detected an increase in adolescent anxiety levels during COVID. Could this be because many of the factors that contribute to anxiety in adolescents, i.e. school, social interaction, extracurriculars, exams and workloads, were lightened in the pandemic?
A multi-method exploratory study of stress, coping, and substance use among high school youth in private schools [2015]
Noelle R. Leonard, Marya V. Gwadz, Amanda Ritchie, Jessica L. Linick, Charles M. Cleland, Luther Elliott and Michele Grethel
This 2015 NYU study found that high school students experience high levels of chronic stress. It identified the main contributing factors to this stress as academic performance pressure and the college admissions process. Students in the study were found to have commonly internalized these pressures and turned to alcohol and drugs in order to cope.
Provisional Numbers and Rates of Suicide by Month and Demographic Characteristics: United States, 2021
Sally C. Curtin, M.A., Matthew F. Garnett, M.P.H., and Farida B. Ahmad, M.P.H.
The latest CDC figures show an increase in adolescent suicides in 2021, after two years of decreases in 2019 and 2020. The report showed the largest increase, of 11%, in October. It is interesting to note, much like the 2021 review, that teen suicides decreased rather increasing during the pandemic, and that the largest increase was seen in October – the month before many colleges’ early action or early decision deadlines.