Mental Well-Being: 2010–2018 Trends among Italian Adolescents

Michela Bersia, Paola Berchialla, Lorena Charrier, Patrizia Lemma, Alberto Borraccino, Paola Nardone, Daniela Pierannunzio, Silvia Ciardullo, Rosanna Irene Comoretto and Paola Dalmasso
Additional contact information
Michela Bersia: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
Paola Berchialla: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Regione Gonzole 43, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
Lorena Charrier: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
Patrizia Lemma: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
Alberto Borraccino: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
Paola Nardone: National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Daniela Pierannunzio: National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Silvia Ciardullo: National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Rosanna Irene Comoretto: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
Paola Dalmasso: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: (1) Aims: To explore temporal trends 2010–2018 of well-being among Italian adolescents and to evaluate potential explanatory factors. (2) Methods: Italian nationality representative samples of students aged 11, 13, and 15 years were recruited in 2010, 2014, and 2018; Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC), for an overall number of 165,000 teenagers. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to fit the trends over time of life satisfaction (LS), psychological (PSY-HC) and somatic health complaints (SOM-HC) considering the contextual factors: school work pressure, social support (family, school, peers), socioeconomic status, geographic area, and immigration background; (3) Results: From 2010 to 2018 while LS was steady, health complaints increased, mainly for PSY-HC, in all age and gender groups. Trend of PSY-HC affected mainly 15-years-olds: rates among boys varied from 29.6% to 35.9% (OR: 1.13, 95%CI: 1.02–1.25); among girls from 49.1% to 63.3% (OR: 1.56, 95%CI: 1.42–1.72). High school work pressure and poor social support play a central role in worsening well-being outcomes; (4) Conclusions: Our findings pictured a remarkable worsening trend of teenagers’ well-being, especially among 15-year-old girls. Further research will be required to investigate this breaking up of the connection between psychophysical symptomatology and cognitive perception of life satisfaction.

Keywords: mental health; adolescents; well-being; temporal trend; HBSC; Dual Factor Model; life satisfaction; psychological health complaints (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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