Conventional wisdom insists that adolescent depression levels have been climbing in recent years — especially after the pandemic.
However, a recent Swedish study recently uncovered no significant jump in self-reported depressive symptoms among adolescents over the past two decades. These findings obviously contradict the prevailing conceit that these kids are living through a growing mental health crisis.
Even so, the data suggests that between 5 percent and 8 percent of adolescents struggle with depressive symptoms. And suicide persists as the fourth-leading cause of death worldwide among the 15-29-year-old set – responsible for more than 700,000 deaths every year.
Methodology
In Sweden, concerns about growing adolescent depression rates have driven researchers to explore this trend. One group decided to look more closely at the depressive symptoms among Swedish high school students between 2004 and 2020.
More specifically, the researchers compared two groups of adolescents – between the ages of 13 and 16. They surveyed the group in 2004 – using the widely accepted Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI). They followed up with the second group between 1029 and 2020.
It’s worth noting that the CDI evaluates depressive symptoms using more than two dozen markers, scoring each of them on a three-point scale. Higher scores point to more severe depressive symptoms.
Qualified Stability
Contrary to popular belief, the study revealed no real difference in overall CDI scores between the two groups. This, the study’s authors posit, suggests that the overall levels of self-reported depressive symptoms among Swedish adolescents have remained static – at least over the last decade-and-a-half.
Additionally, the number of kids who reported high levels of depressive symptoms also remained the same.
But, the researchers did note a few differences.
Adolescents in the more recent cohort scored higher on three CDI markers:
- “Nothing is fun at all.”
- “I am bad all the time.”
- “I can never be as good as other kids.”
These higher scores point to an inflated sense of self-deprecation among the more recent cohort.
Additionally, the young women reported higher scores than the men in both groups, reiterating the long-established gender disparities that persist in adolescent mental health.
Possible Explanations and Context
The paper’s authors theorize that the lack of a notable uptick in overall depressive symptoms might reflect more widespread awareness of – and the will to discuss – mental health issues. Today’s adolescents might be more comfortable talking about their feelings, since they’ve grown up in environments where these discussions are more commonplace (and free of the historical stigma that’s plagued them). The researchers add that Increased dialogue about mental health in schools, media, and online could be a contributing factor.
The researchers also conceded discrepancies in the survey methods. The team gathered the 2004 data via paper questionnaires, while they targeted the 2019-20 cohort with digital surveys.
Research indicates that individuals may score lower on certain sensitive items, such as suicide-related questions, when completing forms online. This potential disparity highlights the importance of consistent data collection methods in mental health research.
Implications for Mental Health Strategies
The findings align with similar international studies – from Australia and Canada, for example – which showed no substantial increase in adolescent depression. This suggests that societal fears of a widespread adolescent mental health crisis might be inflated.
That being said, the rise in reported self-deprecating thoughts among Swedish adolescents hints at the potential need for targeted interventions to support emotional resilience and self-esteem.
The study’s authors urge Sweden’s public health stakeholders to embrace a more approach to adolescent mental health assessment. They add that schools, healthcare providers, and policymakers must work together to ensure adolescents have better access to support services.
Further Reading
Chronic Smartphone Use Linked to Teen Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia
One-Year Course and Predictors of Outcome of Adolescent Depression
