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. 2019 Aug 2;7(1):50.
doi: 10.1186/s40359-019-0326-8.

Trends in childhood and adolescent internalizing symptoms: results from Swedish population based twin cohorts

Natalie Durbeej  1   2 , Karolina Sörman  1 , Eva Norén Selinus  1   3 , Sebastian Lundström  4 , Paul Lichtenstein  5 , Clara Hellner  1 , Linda Halldner  6   7   8
Affiliations

Trends in childhood and adolescent internalizing symptoms: results from Swedish population based twin cohorts

Natalie Durbeej et al. BMC Psychol. .

Abstract

Background: Previous research has noted trends of increasing internalizing problems (e.g., symptoms of depression and anxiety), particularly amongst adolescent girls. Cross-cohort comparisons using identical assessments of both anxiety and depression in youth are lacking, however.

Methods: In this large twin study, we examined trends in internalizing symptoms in samples of 9 year old children and 15 year old adolescents, gathered from successive birth cohorts from 1998 to 2008 (age 9) and 1994-2001 (age 15). Assessments at age 9 were parent-rated, and at age 15 self- and parent-rated. We examined (i) the relation between birth cohorts and internalizing symptoms using linear regressions, and (ii) whether percentages of participants exceeding scale cut-off scores changed over time, using Cochrane Armitage Trend Tests.

Results: Among 9 year old children, a significantly increasing percentage of participants (both boys and girls) had scores above cut-off on anxiety symptoms, but not on depressive symptoms. At age 15, a significantly increasing percentage of participants (both boys and girls) had scores above cut-off particularly on self-reported internalizing symptoms. On parent-reported internalizing symptoms, only girls demonstrated a corresponding trend.

Conclusion: In line with previous studies, we found small changes over sequential birth cohorts in frequencies of depression and anxiety symptoms in children. Further, these changes were not exclusive to girls.

Keywords: Adolescence; Childhood; Epidemiology; Internalizing; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Percentage of participants with scores above cut-offs for the parent-reported Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) (n = 324) and the parent-reported Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (sMFQ), (n = 1044), assessed at age 9
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Percentage of participants with scores above cut-offs for the emotional subscale of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) parent- (n = 495) and self-report (n = 2551) versions assessed at age 15
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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