Mental health of young people in Switzerland
Details

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State: Public
Version: After imprimatur
License: Not specified
Serval ID
serval:BIB_B5AA5F02F834
Type
A Master's thesis.
Publication sub-type
Master (thesis) (master)
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Mental health of young people in Switzerland
Director(s)
SURIS J-C
Institution details
Université de Lausanne, Faculté de biologie et médecine
Publication state
Accepted
Issued date
2022
Language
english
Number of pages
17
Abstract
Introduction
Literature shows that depressive and anxiety disorders are the main causes of morbidity among 15-19 year-olds. Recent
data also suggest that mental health in adolescents is declining and Switzerland makes no exception.
The objectives of this study are to investigate factors associated with depression and anxiety disorders in 14-19 year
olds in Switzerland and to quantify the association among those with depression and/or anxiety and associated risk
behaviours.
Method
Data were obtained from an online survey addressed to young people aged 14-19 years and living either in Switzerland
or Liechtenstein. The questionnaire was distributed between June 7th and August 9th 2021. Participants were asked to
fill in a web-based, self-reported anonymous questionnaire which aimed to assess anxiety, according to the General
Anxiety Disorder score, depression, according to the Kutcher Adolescent Depression scale, and several associated
variables (gender, age, perceived socioeconomic status, academic track, family structure, chronic condition, sport
practice, perceived somatic health, alcohol, drugs use, adverse childhood experiences, self-esteem, suicidal thoughts
and attempts and mental health care utilization).
For the analysis, we ran a bivariate analysis that investigated the association between either anxiety, depression or
depression and/or anxiety and each variable using the chi-square test for the categorical variables and student’s t test
for the continuous ones. Then we made a multivariate logistic regression analysis taking into account the effect of all
significant variables to examine each factor’s association with our dependent variable. Results are presented as crude
and adjusted odds ratio (aOR).
Results
One quarter of the adolescents showed anxiety symptoms. Factors significantly linked with those symptoms were a
below average socioeconomic status, three or more adverse childhood experiences, perceived somatic health and self-
esteem.
One third of young people showed depressive traits. Factors significantly linked with this condition were three or more
adverse childhood experiences, suicidal thoughts, perceived somatic health and low self-esteem.
More than a third of adolescents showed either depressive or anxiety traits and the factors significantly linked with
those conditions were three or more adverse childhood experiences, suicidal thoughts, perceived somatic health and
low self-esteem. Less than half (45.7%) of adolescents with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety traits consulted a
mental health professional in the previous year.
Conclusions
Mental health problems affect around one third of 14-19 year-olds in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. While it is likely
that the Covid pandemic influenced our results, this rate is much higher than the ones found in similar populations.
The main factors associated with depression and anxiety are a low socioeconomic status, having suffered from adverse
childhood experiences, suicidal thoughts, a low perceived somatic health and a low self-esteem. Youths in these
situations should be specifically targeted, especially since only a minority of those showing depressive and/or anxiety
traits consult a mental health provider.
Literature shows that depressive and anxiety disorders are the main causes of morbidity among 15-19 year-olds. Recent
data also suggest that mental health in adolescents is declining and Switzerland makes no exception.
The objectives of this study are to investigate factors associated with depression and anxiety disorders in 14-19 year
olds in Switzerland and to quantify the association among those with depression and/or anxiety and associated risk
behaviours.
Method
Data were obtained from an online survey addressed to young people aged 14-19 years and living either in Switzerland
or Liechtenstein. The questionnaire was distributed between June 7th and August 9th 2021. Participants were asked to
fill in a web-based, self-reported anonymous questionnaire which aimed to assess anxiety, according to the General
Anxiety Disorder score, depression, according to the Kutcher Adolescent Depression scale, and several associated
variables (gender, age, perceived socioeconomic status, academic track, family structure, chronic condition, sport
practice, perceived somatic health, alcohol, drugs use, adverse childhood experiences, self-esteem, suicidal thoughts
and attempts and mental health care utilization).
For the analysis, we ran a bivariate analysis that investigated the association between either anxiety, depression or
depression and/or anxiety and each variable using the chi-square test for the categorical variables and student’s t test
for the continuous ones. Then we made a multivariate logistic regression analysis taking into account the effect of all
significant variables to examine each factor’s association with our dependent variable. Results are presented as crude
and adjusted odds ratio (aOR).
Results
One quarter of the adolescents showed anxiety symptoms. Factors significantly linked with those symptoms were a
below average socioeconomic status, three or more adverse childhood experiences, perceived somatic health and self-
esteem.
One third of young people showed depressive traits. Factors significantly linked with this condition were three or more
adverse childhood experiences, suicidal thoughts, perceived somatic health and low self-esteem.
More than a third of adolescents showed either depressive or anxiety traits and the factors significantly linked with
those conditions were three or more adverse childhood experiences, suicidal thoughts, perceived somatic health and
low self-esteem. Less than half (45.7%) of adolescents with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety traits consulted a
mental health professional in the previous year.
Conclusions
Mental health problems affect around one third of 14-19 year-olds in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. While it is likely
that the Covid pandemic influenced our results, this rate is much higher than the ones found in similar populations.
The main factors associated with depression and anxiety are a low socioeconomic status, having suffered from adverse
childhood experiences, suicidal thoughts, a low perceived somatic health and a low self-esteem. Youths in these
situations should be specifically targeted, especially since only a minority of those showing depressive and/or anxiety
traits consult a mental health provider.
Keywords
Adolescence, Mental Health, Switzerland, Depression, Anxiety
Create date
08/08/2024 13:11
Last modification date
09/08/2024 14:51