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Gender differences in psychosocial functioning of adolescents with symptoms of anxiety and depression: longitudinal findings from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study

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Abstract

Purpose

To explore longitudinally gender differences in the associations between psychosocial functioning, subjective well-being and self-esteem among adolescents with and without symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Methods

Data were obtained from a major population-based Norwegian study, the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study, in which 1,092 boys and 1,262 girls (86% of all invited) completed an extensive self-report questionnaire at baseline (mean age 14.4 years) and at follow-up (mean age 18.4 years).

Results

Gender was a moderator variable in the associations between symptoms of anxiety and depression and impairment, meaning that boys’ functioning was impaired to a larger extent than girls’ functioning. A statistically significant interaction effect between gender and symptoms of anxiety and depression was found at follow-up in terms of subjective well-being (p < 0.05), self-esteem (p < 0.05), academic problems (p < 0.01), behaviour problems (p < 0.01) and frequency of meeting friends (p < 0.001). Onset of symptoms between baseline and follow-up was associated with less frequent meetings with friends among boys, but not among girls. After remission of symptoms, boys still had more behaviour and academic problems, less frequently met friends and reported lower subjective well-being and self-esteem than boys who had no symptoms at both time points. No similar differences were found among the girls.

Conclusion

Previous and ongoing symptoms of anxiety and depression had more negative consequences for boys than for girls. These findings may contribute to improved assessment and intervention methods tailored differently for each gender.

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Acknowledgments

The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) is a product of the collaboration between the HUNT Research Centre, the Faculty of Medicine at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Levanger), the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Nord-Trøndelag County Council. This study was financed by a PhD grant awarded to the first author by the Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation through the National Council for Mental Health, by a grant from The Liaison Committee between the Central Norway Regional Health Authority. RHA) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and by funds provided by the Regional Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (RBUP) at the Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. The funding sources had no involvement in the manuscript preparation. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to Ruth Derdikman-Eiron.

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We dedicate this paper to the beloved memory of Professor Matthew Colton, who died unexpectedly while this paper was in its final preparation phase.

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Derdikman-Eiron, R., Indredavik, M.S., Bakken, I.J. et al. Gender differences in psychosocial functioning of adolescents with symptoms of anxiety and depression: longitudinal findings from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 47, 1855–1863 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0492-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0492-y

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