Adolescent girls’ explanations of high rates of low mood and anxiety in their population: a co-produced qualitative study
Abstract Background From early adolescence, girls face greater risk of experiencing low mood and anxiety relative to boys, with recent evidence that this may be worsening. There is a paucity of mental health research that meaningfully progresses understanding of these gender disparities, including t...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | BMC Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03517-x |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823861677345472512 |
|---|---|
| author | Ola Demkowicz Rebecca Jefferson Pratyasha Nanda Lucy Foulkes Jo Lam Steven Pryjmachuk Rhiannon Evans Bernadka Dubicka Liz Neill Laura Anne Winter Georgina Nnamani |
| author_facet | Ola Demkowicz Rebecca Jefferson Pratyasha Nanda Lucy Foulkes Jo Lam Steven Pryjmachuk Rhiannon Evans Bernadka Dubicka Liz Neill Laura Anne Winter Georgina Nnamani |
| author_sort | Ola Demkowicz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background From early adolescence, girls face greater risk of experiencing low mood and anxiety relative to boys, with recent evidence that this may be worsening. There is a paucity of mental health research that meaningfully progresses understanding of these gender disparities, including that engages adolescent girls’ own perspectives, limiting our ability to direct further research and enhance intervention approaches. Aims We examined low mood and anxiety from the perspective of adolescent girls, asking: What do adolescent girls perceive to be causing their population’s high rates of low mood and anxiety? Methods We adopted a co-produced qualitative design, guided by ecological systems theory, conducting focus groups in 2022 with 32 adolescent girls aged 16 to 18 years in England. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Analysis Participants framed low mood and anxiety among adolescent girls as “normal”, and discussed potential explanations including persistent reiteration and expectation of gendered norms, intense educational pressures in ways that can be gendered, difficulties within peer relationships, and comparison and insecurity in social media contexts. Throughout, participants highlighted how complex these issues are, including nuances around individual differences, sociodemographic contexts, and societal contexts. Conclusions The study offers a critically important contribution to evidence on gendered inequalities in low mood and anxiety, drawing attention to the interwoven and complex nature of girls’ lives and illuminating various aspects that would benefit from greater research. The insights gained through exploration with girls themselves hold policy and practical relevance to enhance systems to meet girls’ needs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cb2771436fdd43a2b15dd149525eecb2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6874 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-cb2771436fdd43a2b15dd149525eecb22025-02-09T12:52:45ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742025-02-0125111210.1186/s12905-024-03517-xAdolescent girls’ explanations of high rates of low mood and anxiety in their population: a co-produced qualitative studyOla Demkowicz0Rebecca Jefferson1Pratyasha Nanda2Lucy Foulkes3Jo Lam4Steven Pryjmachuk5Rhiannon Evans6Bernadka Dubicka7Liz Neill8Laura Anne Winter9Georgina Nnamani10Manchester Institute of Education, The University of ManchesterManchester Institute of Education, The University of ManchesterCommon RoomDepartment of Experimental Psychology, University of OxfordCommon RoomDivision of Nursing, Midwifery, and Social Work, The University of ManchesterDECIPHer (Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement), School of Social Sciences, Cardiff UniversityDivision of Neuroscience, The University of ManchesterCommon RoomManchester Institute of Education, The University of ManchesterManchester Institute of Education, The University of ManchesterAbstract Background From early adolescence, girls face greater risk of experiencing low mood and anxiety relative to boys, with recent evidence that this may be worsening. There is a paucity of mental health research that meaningfully progresses understanding of these gender disparities, including that engages adolescent girls’ own perspectives, limiting our ability to direct further research and enhance intervention approaches. Aims We examined low mood and anxiety from the perspective of adolescent girls, asking: What do adolescent girls perceive to be causing their population’s high rates of low mood and anxiety? Methods We adopted a co-produced qualitative design, guided by ecological systems theory, conducting focus groups in 2022 with 32 adolescent girls aged 16 to 18 years in England. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Analysis Participants framed low mood and anxiety among adolescent girls as “normal”, and discussed potential explanations including persistent reiteration and expectation of gendered norms, intense educational pressures in ways that can be gendered, difficulties within peer relationships, and comparison and insecurity in social media contexts. Throughout, participants highlighted how complex these issues are, including nuances around individual differences, sociodemographic contexts, and societal contexts. Conclusions The study offers a critically important contribution to evidence on gendered inequalities in low mood and anxiety, drawing attention to the interwoven and complex nature of girls’ lives and illuminating various aspects that would benefit from greater research. The insights gained through exploration with girls themselves hold policy and practical relevance to enhance systems to meet girls’ needs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03517-xGenderAdolescent girlsMental healthLow moodAnxietyQualitative |
| spellingShingle | Ola Demkowicz Rebecca Jefferson Pratyasha Nanda Lucy Foulkes Jo Lam Steven Pryjmachuk Rhiannon Evans Bernadka Dubicka Liz Neill Laura Anne Winter Georgina Nnamani Adolescent girls’ explanations of high rates of low mood and anxiety in their population: a co-produced qualitative study BMC Women's Health Gender Adolescent girls Mental health Low mood Anxiety Qualitative |
| title | Adolescent girls’ explanations of high rates of low mood and anxiety in their population: a co-produced qualitative study |
| title_full | Adolescent girls’ explanations of high rates of low mood and anxiety in their population: a co-produced qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Adolescent girls’ explanations of high rates of low mood and anxiety in their population: a co-produced qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adolescent girls’ explanations of high rates of low mood and anxiety in their population: a co-produced qualitative study |
| title_short | Adolescent girls’ explanations of high rates of low mood and anxiety in their population: a co-produced qualitative study |
| title_sort | adolescent girls explanations of high rates of low mood and anxiety in their population a co produced qualitative study |
| topic | Gender Adolescent girls Mental health Low mood Anxiety Qualitative |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03517-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT olademkowicz adolescentgirlsexplanationsofhighratesoflowmoodandanxietyintheirpopulationacoproducedqualitativestudy AT rebeccajefferson adolescentgirlsexplanationsofhighratesoflowmoodandanxietyintheirpopulationacoproducedqualitativestudy AT pratyashananda adolescentgirlsexplanationsofhighratesoflowmoodandanxietyintheirpopulationacoproducedqualitativestudy AT lucyfoulkes adolescentgirlsexplanationsofhighratesoflowmoodandanxietyintheirpopulationacoproducedqualitativestudy AT jolam adolescentgirlsexplanationsofhighratesoflowmoodandanxietyintheirpopulationacoproducedqualitativestudy AT stevenpryjmachuk adolescentgirlsexplanationsofhighratesoflowmoodandanxietyintheirpopulationacoproducedqualitativestudy AT rhiannonevans adolescentgirlsexplanationsofhighratesoflowmoodandanxietyintheirpopulationacoproducedqualitativestudy AT bernadkadubicka adolescentgirlsexplanationsofhighratesoflowmoodandanxietyintheirpopulationacoproducedqualitativestudy AT lizneill adolescentgirlsexplanationsofhighratesoflowmoodandanxietyintheirpopulationacoproducedqualitativestudy AT lauraannewinter adolescentgirlsexplanationsofhighratesoflowmoodandanxietyintheirpopulationacoproducedqualitativestudy AT georginannamani adolescentgirlsexplanationsofhighratesoflowmoodandanxietyintheirpopulationacoproducedqualitativestudy |