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The great recession, youth unemployment and inequalities in psychological health complaints in adolescents: a multilevel study in 31 countries

Author

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  • Katharina Rathmann

    (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg)

  • Timo-Kolja Pförtner

    (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
    University of Cologne)

  • Klaus Hurrelmann

    (Hertie School of Governance Berlin)

  • Ana M. Osorio

    (Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali)

  • Lucia Bosakova

    (P. J. Safarik University in Kosice
    University of Economics in Bratislava
    Palacky University in Olomouc)

  • Frank J. Elgar

    (McGill University)

  • Matthias Richter

    (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg)

Abstract

Objectives Little is known about the impact of recessions on young people’s socioeconomic inequalities in health. This study investigates the impact of the economic recession in terms of youth unemployment on socioeconomic inequalities in psychological health complaints among adolescents across Europe and North America. Methods Data from the WHO collaborative ‘Health Behaviour in School-aged Children’ (HBSC) study were collected in 2005/06 (N = 160,830) and 2009/10 (N = 166,590) in 31 European and North American countries. Logistic multilevel models were used to assess the contribution of youth unemployment in 2009/10 (enduring recession) and the change in youth unemployment (2005–2010) to adolescent psychological health complaints and socioeconomic inequalities in complaints in 2009/10. Results Youth unemployment during the recession is positively related to psychological health complaints, but not to inequalities in complaints. Changes in youth unemployment (2005–2010) were not associated with adolescents’ psychological health complaints, whereas greater inequalities in complaints were found in countries with greater increases in youth unemployment. Conclusions This study highlights the need to tackle the impact of increasing unemployment on adolescent health and health inequalities during economic recessions.

Suggested Citation

  • Katharina Rathmann & Timo-Kolja Pförtner & Klaus Hurrelmann & Ana M. Osorio & Lucia Bosakova & Frank J. Elgar & Matthias Richter, 2016. "The great recession, youth unemployment and inequalities in psychological health complaints in adolescents: a multilevel study in 31 countries," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(7), pages 809-819, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ijphth:v:61:y:2016:i:7:d:10.1007_s00038-016-0866-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s00038-016-0866-0
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    1. Hiilamo, Aapo & Hiilamo, Heikki & Ristikari, Tiina & Virtanen, Petri, 2021. "Impact of the Great Recession on mental health, substance use and violence in families with children: A systematic review of the evidence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    2. Muhammad Qasim & Zahid Pervaiz & Amatul Razzaq Chaudhary, 2020. "Do Poverty and Income Inequality Mediate the Association Between Agricultural Land Inequality and Human Development?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 151(1), pages 115-134, August.
    3. Drydakis, Nick, 2022. "Economic recession, parental unemployment and adolescents' health-related quality of life and mental health outcomes in Greece," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1134, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    4. Asaduzzaman Khan & Shanchita R. Khan & Eun-Young Lee, 2022. "Association between Lifestyle Behaviours and Mental Health of Adolescents: Evidence from the Canadian HBSC Surveys, 2002–2014," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-9, June.

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