Abstract
The present study examines the 10-year time-trend changes of adolescent psychiatric symptoms, smoking and alcohol use. Representative
population-based samples with same methods at two time-points, same age range and with 10-year period between the time points
were gathered in Finland to investigate secular changes in adolescents’ emotional and behavioral problems. Seventh and ninth
grade students filled in the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and questions regarding alcohol use and smoking
anonymously during a school lesson in 1998 (n = 1458) and 2008 (n = 1569). The self-reports of SDQ showed substantial stability in emotional and behavioral problems from 1998 to 2008. There
was no increase between the two timepoints in self-reports of SDQ total, conduct, hyperactivity, emotional or peer problems
when using the 90th percentile clinical cut-off points. However, there was a trend showing decreasing prosocial behavior among
girls indicating that proportions of adolescent boys and girls having problems in prosocial behavior have converged, The self-reported
alcohol use, drunkenness and cigarette smoking decreased within the 10-year time period. Of alcohol use, the number of non-users
increased from 44 to 63 % between the years 1998 and 2008. Similarly, the proportion of non-smokers increased from 56 to 68 %.
Although rates of substance use declined within the 10-year study period, drunkenness-oriented alcohol use and regular smoking
are still prevalent among Finnish adolescents.
population-based samples with same methods at two time-points, same age range and with 10-year period between the time points
were gathered in Finland to investigate secular changes in adolescents’ emotional and behavioral problems. Seventh and ninth
grade students filled in the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and questions regarding alcohol use and smoking
anonymously during a school lesson in 1998 (n = 1458) and 2008 (n = 1569). The self-reports of SDQ showed substantial stability in emotional and behavioral problems from 1998 to 2008. There
was no increase between the two timepoints in self-reports of SDQ total, conduct, hyperactivity, emotional or peer problems
when using the 90th percentile clinical cut-off points. However, there was a trend showing decreasing prosocial behavior among
girls indicating that proportions of adolescent boys and girls having problems in prosocial behavior have converged, The self-reported
alcohol use, drunkenness and cigarette smoking decreased within the 10-year time period. Of alcohol use, the number of non-users
increased from 44 to 63 % between the years 1998 and 2008. Similarly, the proportion of non-smokers increased from 56 to 68 %.
Although rates of substance use declined within the 10-year study period, drunkenness-oriented alcohol use and regular smoking
are still prevalent among Finnish adolescents.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Contribution
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s00787-012-0303-8
- Authors
- Andre Sourander, Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland
- Merja Koskelainen, Department of Child Psychiatry, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Solja Niemelä, Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Maria Rihko, Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland
- Terja Ristkari, Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland
- Jarna Lindroos, Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland
- Journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Online ISSN 1435-165X
- Print ISSN 1018-8827