Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The effects of individual factors and school environment on mental health and prejudiced attitudes among Norwegian adolescents

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

The aim was to examine the prevalence of mental health difficulties and prejudices toward mental illness among adolescents, and to analyze possible school and school class effects on these issues.

Methods

The sample comprised 4,046 pupils (16–19 years) in 257 school classes from 45 Norwegian upper secondary schools. The estimated response rate among the pupils was about 96%. Self-reported mental health difficulties were measured with a four-item scale that covered emotional and behavioral difficulties. Prejudiced attitudes toward mental illness were assessed using a nine-item scale. Multilevel regression analysis was used to estimate the contribution of factors at the individual level, and at the school and class levels.

Results

Most of the variance in self-reported mental health difficulties and prejudices was accounted for by individual level factors (92–94%). However, there were statistically significant school and class level effects (P < 0.01), confounded by socioeconomic factors. Mental health difficulties were commonly reported, more often by females than males (P < 0.01). Difficulties with emotions and attention were the two main problem areas, with definite to severe difficulties being reported by 19 and 21% of the females, and by 9 and 16% of the males, respectively. Prejudices were reported more often by males than females (P < 0.01). Both self-reported mental health difficulties and prejudiced attitudes were related to educational program, living situation, and parental education (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The relatively high prevalences of mental health difficulties and prejudiced attitudes toward mental illness among adolescents indicate a need for effective mental health intervention programs. Targeted intervention strategies should be considered when there is evidence of a high number of risk factors in schools and school classes. Furthermore, the gender differences found in self-reported mental health difficulties and prejudices suggest a need for gender-differentiated programs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Collishaw S, Maugham B, Goodman R, Pickles A (2004) Time trends in adolescent mental health. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 45:1350–1362

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Goodman R, Slobdaskaya H, Knyazev G (2005) Russian child mental health. A cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 14:28–33

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Heyerdahl S, Kvernmo S, Wichström L (2004) Self-reported behavioural/emotional problems in Norwegian adolescents from multiethnic area. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 13:64–73

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Torsheim T, Välimaa R, Danielson M (2004) Health and well-being. In WHO. Young peoples’ health in context. Health behavior in school-aged children (HBSC) study. International report from the 2001/2002 survey. WHO, Copenhagen

  5. Tick NT, van der Ende J, Verhulst FC (2008) Ten-year trends in self-reported emotional and behavioural problems of Dutch adolescents. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 43:349–355

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Vollebergh W, van Dorsselaer S, Monshouwer K, Verdurmen J, van der Ende J, ter Bogt T (2006) Mental health problems in early adolescents in the Netherlands. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 41:156–163

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Van Roy R, Grøholt B, Heyerdahl S, Clench-Aas J (2006) Self-reported strengths and difficulties in a large Norwegian population. Age and gender specific results of the extended SDQ-questionnaire. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 15:189–198

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Corrigan P (2003) Beat the stigma: come out of the closet. Psychiatr Serv 54:1313

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Corrigan PW, Lurie BD, Goldman HH, Slopen N, Medasani K, Phelan S (2005) How adolescents perceive the stigma of mental illness and alcohol abuse. Psychiatr Serv 56:544–550

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Wahl OF (2002) Children’s views of mental illness: a review of the literature. Psychiatr Rehabil Skills 6:134–158

    Google Scholar 

  11. Lauria-Horner BA, Kutcher S, Brooks SJ (2004) The feasibility of mental healthy curriculum in elementary school. Can J Psychiatry 49:208–211

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Rescorla L, Achenbach TM, Ivanova MY, Dumenci L, Almqvist F, Bilenberg N et al (2007) Epidemiological comparisons of problems and positive qualities reported by adolescents in 24 countries. J Consult Clin Psychol 75:351–358

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Rickwood DJ, Braithwaite VA (1994) Social-psychological factors affecting help-seeking for emotional problems. Soc Sci Med 39:563–572

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Chandra A, Minkovitz CS (2006) Stigma starts early: gender differences in teen willingness to use mental health services. J Adolesc Health 38:754

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Corrigan PW, Watson AC (2007) The stigma of psychiatric disorders and the gender, ethnicity, and education of the perceiver. Community Ment Health J 43:439–458

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Golberstein E, Eisenberg D, Gollust SE (2008) Perceived stigma and mental health care seeking. Psychiatr Serv 59:392–399

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Aromaa E, Tolvanen A, Tuulari J, Wahlbeck K (2009) Attitudes towards people with mental health disorders: the psychometric characteristics of a Finnish questionnaire. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. doi:10.1007/s00127-009-0064y

  18. Engdahl E (2004) A theory of the emotional self. From the standpoint of a neo-Meadian. Doctoral thesis. Örebro: Örebro University

  19. Hoxby CM (2002) The power of peers. How does the makeup of the classroom influence achievement? Educ Next 2:57–63

    Google Scholar 

  20. Sourander A, Santalahti P, Haavisto A, Piha J, Ikaheimo K, Helenius H (2004) Have there been changes in children’s psychiatric disorders and mental health service use? A 10-year comparison from Finland. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 43:1134–1145

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hölling H, Schlack R (2005) Psychological risk and protective factors for mental health in children and adolescents: Results from the German health interview and examination survey for children and adolescents (KiGGS). Gesundheitswesen 70:154–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. East L, Jackson D, Brien LO (2006) Father absence and adolescent development: a review of the literature. J Child Health Care 10:283–295

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Nævdal F, Thuen F (2004) Resilience arrangements and well-being: a study of Norwegian adolescents. Scand J Psychol 45:363–371

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Angermeyer MC, Dietrich S (2006) Public beliefs about and attitudes towards people with mental disorder: a review of population studies. Acta Psychiatr Scand 113:163–179

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. ten Have M, de Graaf R Ormel J, Vilagut G, Kovess V, Alonso J (2009) Are attitudes towards mental help-seeking associated with service use? Results from the European Study of Epidemiology of Mental Disorders. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. doi:10.1007/s00127-009-0050-4

  26. Denman S (1999) Health promoting schools in England—a way forward in development. J Public Health Med 21:215–220

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Shochet IM, Dadds MR, Holland D, Whitefield K, Harnett PH, Osgarby SM (2001) The efficacy of a universal school-based program to prevent adolescent depression. J Clin Child Psychol 30:303–315

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Konu AI, LintonenTP Rimpela MK (2002) Factors associated with schoolchildrens’ general subjective well-being. Health Educ 17:155–165

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Currie C, Roberts C, Morgan A, Smith S, Settertobulte W, Samdal O (2004) Health behavior in school-aged children study: international report from the 2001/2002 survey WHO Europe, Copenhagen

  30. Norwegian Ministry of Health (1997) The National Mental Health Programme (1999–2008). Openness and comprehensiveness. Psychiatric disorders and the mental health services. White paper. Norwegian Ministry of Health, Oslo

  31. Norwegian Directorate of Health (2008) Gallup poll. Pupils’ and students attitudes toward mental health problems. TNS Gallup Report, Oslo

  32. Zhu W (1997) A multilevel analysis of school factors associated with health-related fitness. Res Q Exerc Sport 68:125–133

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Sellström E, Bremberg S (2006) Is there a “school effect” on pupil outcomes? A review of multilevel studies. J Epidemiol Commun Health 60:149–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Opdenakker M-C, Van Damme J (2000) Effects of schools, teaching, staff and classes on achievement and well-being in secondary education: Similarities and differences between school outcomes. Sch Eff Sch Improv 11:165–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Van den Oord EJCG, Rispens J (1999) Differences between school classes in preschoolers’ psychosocial adjustment: Evidence for the importance of children’s interpersonal relationships. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 40:417–430

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Konu AI, Lintonen TP, Autio VJ (2002) Evaluation of well-being in schools—a multilevel analysis of general subjective well-being. Sch Eff Sch Improv 13:187–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Roeger L, Allison S, Martin G, Dadds V (2001) Adolescent depressive symptomatology: improve schools or help students? Aust J Psychol 53:134–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Goodman R (1999) The extended version of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire as a guide to child psychiatric caseness and consequent burden. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 40:791–799

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Almås-Sørensen L, Hveem K, Ruud KP (2007) “Alle har en psykisk helse”: effektevaluering av en tredelt undervisningspakke for ungdomsskoletrinnet: Tredje og avsluttende del. Department of Psychology. University of Tromsø, Tromsø

  40. Arnesen Y, Breivik C, Johansen LI (2005) “Alle har en psykisk helse”: effektevaluering av en tredelt undervisningspakke for ungdomsskoletrinnet: Første del. Department of Psychology. University of Tromsø, Tromsø

  41. Tobiassen AG, Magnus RE, Gundersen LS (2006) “Alle har en psykisk helse”: effektevaluering av en tredelt undervisningspakke for ungdomsskoletrinnet: Andre del. Self-efficacy og mestring. Department of Psychology. University of Tromsø, Tromsø

  42. Hox J (2002) Multilevel analysis: techniques and applications. Erlbaum, Hillsdale

  43. The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training (2009) The education mirror 2009. Analyses of primary and lower and upper secondary education in Norway, Oslo

  44. Hopkins N (1994) Peer group processes and adolescent health related behavior: more than “peer group pressure”? J Community Appl Soc Psychol 4:329–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Brody G, Ge X (2001) Linking parenting process and self-regulation to psychological functioning and alcohol use during early adolescence. J Fam Psych 16:351–362

    Google Scholar 

  46. Ardelt M, Day L (2002) Parents, sibling, and peers: close social relationships and adolescent deviance. J Early Adolesc 22:310–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Möller-Leimkühler AM (2002) Barriers to help-seeking by men: a review of sociocultural and clinical literature with particular reference to depression. J Affect Disord 71:1–9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Farina A (1998) Stigma. In: Mueser KT, Tarrier N (eds) Handbook of social functioning in schizophrenia. Allyn & Bacon Inc., Needham Heights, pp 247–279

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. SINTEF Health Services Research, 7465, Trondheim, Norway

    Helle Wessel Andersson, Johan Håkon Bjørngaard, Silje Lill Kaspersen & Thomas Dahl

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway

    Catharina E. A. Wang & Ingunn Skre

  3. Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Johan Håkon Bjørngaard

Authors
  1. Helle Wessel Andersson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Johan Håkon Bjørngaard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Silje Lill Kaspersen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Catharina E. A. Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ingunn Skre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Thomas Dahl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Helle Wessel Andersson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Andersson, H.W., Bjørngaard, J.H., Kaspersen, S.L. et al. The effects of individual factors and school environment on mental health and prejudiced attitudes among Norwegian adolescents. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 45, 569–577 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-009-0099-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-009-0099-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation