ArticleChild and adolescent mental health2026
Self-reported changes in adolescent mental health, deliberate self-harm, substance use, and help-seeking behavior before and after the COVID-19 pandemic - A Finnish time-trend study.
Article in Child and adolescent mental health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Trajectories of internalizing problems during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: The effects of sex and early life stress.Journal of affective disorders · 2026Article
- Time trends in non-suicidal self-injury, disordered eating, and mental health problems between 2007 and 2025: a comparison of two Swedish adolescent cohorts.European child & adolescent psychiatry · 2026Article
- Referral patterns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic to a child and adolescent mental health clinic in Gauteng, South Africa.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
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10 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundDespite the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on adolescents' mental health, there is a lack of studies comparing it pre- and postpandemic using consistent designs and measurements. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze changes in adolescent psychopathology, deliberate self-harm behavior, substance use, and help-seeking behavior pre- and post-COVID-19, with an identical study design.
methodsThe study included three repeated cross-sectional studies conducted in 2014, 2018, and 2023, including self-reported data from Finnish secondary school students in grades 7 to 9, aged 13 to 16 (n = 9,024). The survey measured demographic information, mental health using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), deliberate self-harm behavior, substance use, and help-seeking behavior.
resultsComparing data in 2023 with 2018, there were significant increases among females in total SDQ score (OR 2.1, 98.33% CI 1.7-2.7), conduct problems (OR 1.7, 98.33% CI 1.1-2.7), emotional symptoms (OR 1.8, 98.33% CI 1.5-2.3), and hyperactivity symptoms (OR 2.8, 98.33% CI 2.2-3.6). Perceived severe overall difficulties (OR 2.8, 98.33% CI 2.0-3.7), weekly smoking (OR 2.7, 98.33% CI 1.5-4.9), and seeking help (OR 1.5, 98.33% CI 1.2-2.0) increased. For males, increases were noted only in hyperactivity symptoms (OR 2.5, 98.33% CI 1.2-1.9) and perceived severe overall difficulties (OR 1.5, 98.33% CI 1.0-2.1), along with a decrease in alcohol consumption (OR 0.7, 98.33% CI 0.5-0.9). By contrast, the period from 2014 to 2018 showed minimal changes.
conclusionThe concerning rise in psychopathology after the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among females, highlights the importance of early detection and effective interventions.
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