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Trend of Correlations between Psychological Symptoms and Socioeconomic Inequalities among Italian Adolescents: Cross-Sectional Study from 2006 to 2018 in Tuscany Region

Author

Listed:
  • Dario Lipari

    (Post Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy)

  • Bianca Maria Bocci

    (Post Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy)

  • Cesare Rivieri

    (Post Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy)

  • Elena Frongillo

    (Post Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy)

  • Antonella Miserendino

    (Post Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy)

  • Andrea Pammolli

    (Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
    Research Center on Health Prevention and Promotion (CREPS), University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy)

  • Claudia Maria Trombetta

    (Post Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
    Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
    Interuniversity Research Centre on Influenza and Other Transmissible Infections (CIRI-IT), 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Ilaria Manini

    (Post Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
    Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
    Interuniversity Research Centre on Influenza and Other Transmissible Infections (CIRI-IT), 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Rita Simi

    (Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
    Research Center on Health Prevention and Promotion (CREPS), University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy)

  • Giacomo Lazzeri

    (Post Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
    Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
    Research Center on Health Prevention and Promotion (CREPS), University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
    Interuniversity Research Centre on Influenza and Other Transmissible Infections (CIRI-IT), 16132 Genoa, Italy)

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical moment in life; people become individuals, create new relationships, develop social skills and learn behaviours that they will use for the rest of their lives. During this phase, adolescents establish patterns of behaviour that can protect their health. This study aims to 1. assess the presence of psychological disorders in adolescents of both genders, 2. determine their relation to socio-economic differences based on the Family Affluence Scale (FAS), and 3. assess trends from 2006 to 2018. Data were collected from the Italian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey given to a representative sample of Tuscan adolescents aged 11–15 years. Participants ( n . 12,550) filled out questionnaires to assess whether psychological symptoms such as feeling low, irritability, nervousness, or sleeping difficulties manifested weekly or more often over the past six months. For the study we utilized a cross-sectional survey method and linear regression to examine the association between psychological symptoms (dependent variable measured on an interval scale (0–16)), gender and FAS. We conducted similar analyses using logistic regressions for each of the four symptoms. An increase in psychological symptoms in both genders was revealed between 2006 and 2018, with a statistically significant presence in females: 0.29 (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 0.17 to 0.41), 1.43 (95% CI, 1.37 to 1.48) and 1.43 (95% CI, 1.34 to 1.52) in low-, medium- and high-affluence families, respectively; whereas males presented 0.14 (95% CI, 0.01 to 0.27), 0.71 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.77) and 0.31 (95% CI, 0.22 to 0.39), respectively. The probability of a predictive episode of psychological symptoms (feeling low, irritability, nervousness, sleeping difficulties) occurring weekly, or more, often was greatly increased in females of all socioeconomic classes. These findings suggest that the increase in psychological disorders in adolescents should be considered a public health problem and further investigated through longitudinal studies and continuous monitoring of health trends.

Suggested Citation

  • Dario Lipari & Bianca Maria Bocci & Cesare Rivieri & Elena Frongillo & Antonella Miserendino & Andrea Pammolli & Claudia Maria Trombetta & Ilaria Manini & Rita Simi & Giacomo Lazzeri, 2023. "Trend of Correlations between Psychological Symptoms and Socioeconomic Inequalities among Italian Adolescents: Cross-Sectional Study from 2006 to 2018 in Tuscany Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(15), pages 1-11, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:15:p:6473-:d:1205431
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Graham F. Moore & Rebecca Cox & Rhiannon E. Evans & Britt Hallingberg & Jemma Hawkins & Hannah J. Littlecott & Sara J. Long & Simon Murphy, 2018. "School, Peer and Family Relationships and Adolescent Substance Use, Subjective Wellbeing and Mental Health Symptoms in Wales: a Cross Sectional Study," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 11(6), pages 1951-1965, December.
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