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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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Open Access 01-09-2017 | Original Paper

Time trends in mental well-being: the polarisation of young people’s psychological distress

Authors: Andy Ross, Yvonne Kelly, Amanda Sacker

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 9/2017

Abstract

Purpose

Previous research on time trends of young people’s mental health in Britain has produced conflicting findings: evidence for deterioration in mental health during the late 20th century followed by stability and slight improvement during the early 21st century is contrasted with evidence showing continued deterioration. The present study adds to the evidence base by assessing time trends in means, variances, and both low and high psychological distress scores covering a similar period.

Methods

GHQ-12 (Likert scale) was regressed on time (adjusting for age) using a sample of young people aged 16–24 between 1991 and 2008 from the British Household Panel Study. Change in variance was assessed using Levene’s homogeneity of variance test across 9-year intervals. Polarisation was assessed by a comparison of the prevalence of scores ≥1 standard deviation and ≥1.5 standard deviations above and below the pooled mean.

Results

There was a small but significant increase in mean GHQ-12 among young women (b 0.048; 95% CI 0.016, 0.080) only. Variance increased significantly (p < 0.05) across 9-year intervals in seven out of nine comparisons for women and in six out of nine comparisons for men. There were significant increases in low (OR: 1.19; 95% CI 1.05, 1.35), high (OR: 1.27; 95% CI 1.13, 1.42), and very high scores (OR: 1.42; 95% CI 1.23, 1.64) for young women, and increases in low (OR: 1.39; 95% CI 1.21, 1.59) and very low (OR: 1.53; 95% CI 1.21, 1.92) scores for young men.

Conclusions

The evidence suggests a polarisation of the psychological distress of young women in Britain between 1991 and 2008.

Available only for authorised users

Closer time intervals could include repeated observations from the same individuals.

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Title: Time trends in mental well-being: the polarisation of young people’s psychological distress
Authors: Andy Ross
Yvonne Kelly
Amanda Sacker
Publication date: 01-09-2017
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 9/2017
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1419-4

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Time trends in mental well-being: the polarisation of young people’s psychological distress

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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