SynthesisBMJ global health2025
Cross-national research on adolescent mental health: a systematic review comparing research in low, middle and high-income countries.
Synthesis in BMJ global health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Exploring the role of modifiable sex/gender-specific risk and protective factors for anxiety among young people in high income countries: a systematic narrative review.BMC public health · 2026Pooled it
- Parental, peer, and individual determinants of depression among adolescents and young adults: estimates from a within-between model.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2026Article
- The global burden of mental and substance use disorders among adolescents and young adults.Molecular psychiatry · 2026Article
- Article
- Trust-driven healthy engagement with conversational AI for mental health support in young adults: a mixed methods study.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Ecological Factors Associated With Psychological Distress Among Adolescents: The Role of Educational Stress, Peer Victimization, and Physical Activity.Brain and behavior · 2026Article
- Changes in suicide attempt, suicidal ideation, and self-harm among Indian adolescents: comparison of cross-sectional surveys before (2016) and after (2023) COVID-19 pandemic.Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health · 2026Article
- Implementing PROMEHS to Foster Social and Emotional Learning, Resilience, and Mental Health: Evidence from Croatian Schools.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- A scoping review of mental health problems and associated psychological factors pertinent to young people in education in low-and middle-income countries.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Cross-national comparisons of adolescent mental health and suicidality in the Middle East: a cross-sectional secondary analysis of the global school-based student health survey.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
- Suicidal behaviours and self-harm among adolescents: Results from a school-based mental health survey in the Philippines.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2025Article
- Acceptability of mental health photovoice research with adolescents in rural Mexico.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAlthough 90% of the global adolescent population resides in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), cross-national mental health research has primarily focused on high-income countries. This systematic review aims to examine cross-national studies, including LMICs, focusing on adolescent mental health and psychosocial problems.
methodsPeer-reviewed articles comparing adolescent mental health or psychosocial issues across countries were included if published in English and based on observational study designs. Six databases were searched from inception to January 2024. Risk of bias was assessed using the JBI tool and additional cross-national quality criteria. A narrative synthesis was conducted following the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis guidelines.
resultsThe search identified 172 studies including data from over 12 million adolescents across 166 countries. The most used international survey was the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, and most studies employed cross-sectional designs with school-based, self-reported questionnaires. Adolescent mental health research involved 166 countries, while 52 countries were not represented in any of the studies. The inclusion of LMICs in cross-national research increased over time. Internalising problems and bullying were well-researched topics, but studies on externalising behaviours were limited. The number of publications increased over time, particularly after 2020. Variations by income level were observed, with traditional bullying more prevalent in LMICs. DISCUSSION: This review provides important insights into global patterns and gaps in adolescent mental health research. It highlights the need to address methodological heterogeneity, including the use of validated and culturally adapted measures, comprehensive reporting of sampling procedures, sample sizes, response rates and greater attention to generalisability. In addition, the targeted inclusion of under-represented regions is essential to addressing global disparities and informing effective interventions. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024505077.
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