Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42390692›Full record

ArticleDiscover mental health2026

Trends in anxiety and depressive symptoms among adults in Norway based on eight population-based surveys from 1995 to 2024.

Benedicte Kirkøen, Astrid M A Eriksen, Ann Ragnhild Broderstad, Anne Høye, Jonas Johansson, Børge Sivertsen, Elin Skretting Lunde, Steinar Krokstad, Eivind Aakhus, Ellen Melbye Langballe and 5 more

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Article in Discover mental health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Benedicte KirkøenDepartment of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. benedicte.kirkoen@fhi.no.
Astrid M A EriksenCenter for Sami Health Research, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Ann Ragnhild BroderstadCenter for Sami Health Research, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Anne HøyeDepartment of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Jonas JohanssonDepartment of Community Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Børge SivertsenDepartment of Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway.
Elin Skretting LundeDepartment for Health-, Care- and Social Statistics, Statistics Norway (SSB), Oslo, Norway.
Steinar KrokstadHUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, Norway.
Eivind AakhusNorwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.
Ellen Melbye LangballeNorwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.
Thomas Sevenius NilsenDepartment of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Marit KnapstadDepartment of Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway.
Thomas HansenDepartment of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Martin TesliDepartment of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Anne ReneflotDepartment of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIncreasing symptoms of anxiety and depression among adolescents and emerging adults are well documented, while less attention has been given to how these symptoms have evolved among adults of all ages. We aim to describe the development of symptoms of anxiety and depression for women and men in the adult population in Norway over the past three decades.

methodsFor the first time, we synthesize data from all population-based, cross-sectional surveys of symptoms of anxiety and depression among adults in Norway. Data were extracted from the Living Condition Survey (1998-2012, and 2015-2019), HUNT (1995/97-2017/19), the Tromsø Study (2001-2015/16), SAMINOR (2003/04-2012), Quality of Life Survey (2021-2024), the FHUS Agder (2019-2023), FHUS Oslo (2020-2024), and the Student's Health and Wellbeing Study (SHoT, 2010-2022). Changes over time in symptoms were examined though sex and age stratified regression models.

resultsData from 30 separate data collections include 584 173 adults aged 18-89 years between 1995 and 2024. We observe a clear increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression among young adults, especially among young women. Among individuals in midlife, findings are mixed, with most studies indicating stability or only minor fluctuations. In contrast, the symptoms of older adults appears to have remained stable or even improved.

conclusionsResults show divergent trends in symptoms of anxiety and depression among adults. There has been an increase in symptoms among young adults, while symptoms remain stable or improved in old age. The results highlight the need for targeted preventive efforts among younger adults and for careful continued observation.

Indexed as

AnxietyDepressionMental health problemsTrends

Identifiers

PMID42390692
PMCPMC13542007

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