The Burden of Psychological Distress Among Adolescents in Europe: A Systematic Review of Current Prevalence Studies
Anahtar Kelimeler:
Adolescents- Psychological Distress- Prevalence- Systematic Review- EuropeÖz
Adolescent mental health has emerged as a critical public health challenge in Europe, with psychological distress representing a particularly prevalent concern. This systematic review aimed to identify, describe, and synthesize prevalence estimates of depression, anxiety, and stress among adolescents aged 10–19 years in European countries. A systematic literature search was conducted across four electronic databases to identify prevalence studies examining psychological distress among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years in European countries. A total of 1,058 records were initially identified, and 35 studies met all inclusion criteria after screening and full-text review. The 35 included studies represented 17 European countries and over 300,000 adolescents. Reported prevalence estimates varied widely across studies, ranging from 15.01% to 43.3% for depression, from 7.85% to 48.8% for anxiety, and from 29.3% to 50.5% for stress. This heterogeneity appeared to be associated with differences in measurement instruments, cutoff thresholds, sample characteristics, study settings, and data collection periods. Higher levels of psychological distress were more frequently reported among girls, socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents, adolescents with limited social support, and those with pre-existing vulnerabilities. Findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive, evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies tailored to demographic risk factors across European adolescent populations.
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