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TL;DR
It found a statistically significant increase in the overall psychological symptom score for both genders over the period, with the increase being larger in females across all socioeconomic levels.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 10 authors, 4 centres
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It found a statistically significant increase in the overall psychological symptom score for both genders over the period, with the increase being larger in females across all socioeconomic levels.
The study used a cross-sectional design, analyzing data from the Italian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey collected in waves between 2006 and 2018 from a representative sample of 12,550 adolescents in Tuscany, Italy. Linear regression models examined trends in a composite psychological symptom score, while logistic regressions analyzed specific symptoms. The central result was a statistically significant increase in the composite symptom score from 2006 to 2018 for both genders, with larger increases in females: scores rose by 0.29, 1.43, and 1.43 points for girls in low-, medium-, and high-affluence families, respectively. The probability of specific weekly symptoms like feeling low and irritable showed varied trends by gender and affluence group. Limitations include the cross-sectional design, which cannot establish temporal or causal links, and reliance on self-reported data. The findings suggest rising psychological symptoms in adolescents are a public health concern that warrants further investigation through longitudinal studies.