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Biswas T, Scott JG, Munir K, et al. Global variation in the prevalence of suicidal ideation, anxiety and their correlates among adolescents: A population based study of 82 countries. EClinicalMedicine. 2020;24:100395doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100395.
Biswas, T., Scott, J. G., Munir, K., Renzaho, A. M. N., Rawal, L. B., Baxter, J., & Mamun, A. A. (2020). Global variation in the prevalence of suicidal ideation, anxiety and their correlates among adolescents: A population based study of 82 countries. EClinicalMedicine, 24100395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100395
Biswas, Tuhin, et al. "Global variation in the prevalence of suicidal ideation, anxiety and their correlates among adolescents: A population based study of 82 countries." EClinicalMedicine vol. 24 (2020): 100395. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100395
Biswas T, Scott JG, Munir K, Renzaho AMN, Rawal LB, Baxter J, Mamun AA. Global variation in the prevalence of suicidal ideation, anxiety and their correlates among adolescents: A population based study of 82 countries. EClinicalMedicine. 2020 Jun 24;24:100395. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100395. eCollection 2020 Jul. PMID: 33015595; PMCID: PMC7525128.
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EClinicalMedicine. 2020 Jun 24;24:100395. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100395. eCollection 2020 Jul.

Global variation in the prevalence of suicidal ideation, anxiety and their correlates among adolescents: A population based study of 82 countries.

EClinicalMedicine

Tuhin Biswas, James G Scott, Kerim Munir, Andre M N Renzaho, Lal B Rawal, Janeen Baxter, Abdullah A Mamun

Affiliations

  1. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
  2. ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
  3. QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Qld, 4006, Australia.
  4. Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia.
  5. Metro North Mental Health, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
  6. Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
  7. Developmental Medicine Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
  8. School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Penrith 2751 NSW, Australia.
  9. School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Australia.

PMID: 33015595 PMCID: PMC7525128 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100395

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Suicidal ideation and anxiety are common among adolescents although their prevalence has predominantly been studied in high income countries. This study estimated the population prevalence of suicidal ideation and anxiety and their correlates with peer support, parent-adolescent relationship, peer victimization, conflict, isolation and loneliness across a range of low-income, lower-middle-income, upper-middle-income countries and high-income countries (LMIC-HICs).

METHODS: Data were drawn from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) of adolescents aged 12-17 years between 2003 and 2015 in 82 LM-HICs from the six World Health Organization (WHO) regions. For those countries with repeated time point data in this study, we used data from the most recent survey. We estimated weighted prevalence of suicidal ideation and anxiety by country, region and at a global level with the following questions:-

FINDINGS: The sample comprised of 275,057 adolescents aged 12-17 years (mean age was 14.6 (SD 1.18) years of whom 51.8% were females). The overall 12 months pooled prevalence of suicidal ideation and anxiety were 14.0% (95% CI 10.0-17.0%) and 9.0% (7.0-12.0%) respectively. The highest pooled prevalence of suicidal ideation was observed in the Africa Region (21.0%; 20.0-21.0%) and the lowest was in the Asia region (8.0%, 8.0-9.0%). For anxiety, the highest pooled prevalence was observed in Eastern Mediterranean Region (17.0%, 16.0-17.0%) the lowest was in the European Region (4.0%, 4.0-5.0%). Being female, older age, having a lower socioeconomic status and having no close friends were associated with a greater risk of suicidal ideation and anxiety. A higher levels of parental control was positively associated with a greater likelihood of experiencing suicidal ideation (OR: 1.65, 1.45-1.87) and anxiety (1.53, 1.30-1.80). Parental understanding and monitoring were negatively associated with mental health problems. Similarly, the odds of experiencing suicidal ideation and anxiety were higher among adolescents who had been experiencing peer conflict (1.36, 1.24-1.50; 1.54, 1.40-1.70), peer victimization (1.26, 1.15-1.38; 1.13, 1.02-1.26), peer isolation (1.69, 1.53-1.86; 1.76, 1.61-1.92) and reported loneliness (2.56, 2.33-2.82; 5.63, 5.21-6.08).

INTERPRETATIONS: Suicidal ideation and anxiety are prevalent among adolescents although there is significant global variation. Parental and peer supports are protective factors against suicidal ideation and anxiety. Peer based interventions to enhance social connectedness and parent skills training to improve parent-child relationships may reduce suicidal ideation and anxiety. Research to inform the factors that influence country and regional level differences in adolescent mental health problems may inform preventative strategies.

FUNDING: None.

© 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Conflict of interest statement

All other authors declare no competing interests.

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