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. 2021 May 15:9:96-104.
doi: 10.21307/sjcapp-2021-011. eCollection 2021.

Changes over time in mental health symptoms among adolescents in Tampere, Finland

Noora Knaappila  1 , Mauri Marttunen  2 , Sari Fröjd  3 , Riittakerttu Kaltiala  4
Affiliations

Changes over time in mental health symptoms among adolescents in Tampere, Finland

Noora Knaappila et al. Scand J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Psychol. .

Abstract

Background: Mental health problems are common in adolescence and seeking help for them is becoming more common. Referrals to adolescent mental healthcare have recently increased in Finland.

Objective: To examine time trends in internalizing and externalizing mental health symptoms among Finnish adolescents.

Method: A time-trend school survey was conducted among 9th graders (15-year-olds) in Tampere, Finland, in three time periods: 2002-03, 2012-13 and 2018-19 (N = 4,162).

Results: Compared to the period 2002-03, prevalence of externalizing symptoms decreased in the period 2012-13 and further in 2018-19. The prevalence of internalizing symptoms did not change significantly between 2002-03 and 2012-13; however, in 2018-19, depression, social anxiety, general anxiety, poor subjective health, stress symptoms among boys, and poor self-esteem increased compared to earlier time periods. The increases were more marked among girls. However, suicidal ideation did not increase in 2018-19 compared to earlier time periods.

Conclusion: Whereas the prevalence of externalizing symptoms decreased among Finnish adolescents between 2002-03 and 2018-19, the prevalence of internalizing symptoms increased between 2012-13 and 2018-19. To help to understand the causes of these increases and to prevent internalizing problems, further research on the underlying causes is needed.

Keywords: adolescent; adolescent psychiatry; epidemiologic studies; public health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest All authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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