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Gender differences in Russian adolescent mental health from 1999 to 2021
Evgeniya Yu Privodnova1,2, Nadezhda B Semenova3, Olga S Kornienko1,2
1Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.
Summary
Adolescent mental health in Russia shows concerning trends, particularly for girls, with changes linked to national wealth and gender equality. The COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly worsen these trends, except for hyperactivity.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Adolescent mental health is a growing public health concern.
- Understanding long-term trends and the impact of societal factors is crucial.
- Gender disparities in mental health emerge during adolescence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine secular trends in Russian adolescent mental health from 1999 to 2021.
- To assess the specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health.
- To investigate associations between mental health trends and national indicators.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey of 12,882 adolescents (aged 11-18).
- Utilized the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
- Data collected between 1999 and 2021.
Main Results:
- Increased internalizing problems and a widening gender gap in girls.
- Declined prosocial behavior and increased peer problems in girls.
- Hyperactivity-inattention increased in both genders during the pandemic; other pandemic effects were not greater than long-term trends.
- Mental health trends correlated with national wealth and gender equality indicators.
Conclusions:
- Long-term trends in adolescent mental health are influenced by societal changes.
- Gender-specific interventions are needed to address disparities.
- Further research into the determinants of gender differences in adolescent mental health is warranted.
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