Mental Disorders May Be Transmitted Within Teen Peer Networks
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, May 24, 2024 -- Mental disorders may be transmitted within an adolescent peer network, according to a study published online May 22 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Jussi Alho, Ph.D., from the University of Helsinki, and colleagues examined whether having classmates with a mental disorder diagnosis in ninth grade of comprehensive school is associated with a later risk for diagnosis with a mental disorder using data from a population-based registry study of all Finnish citizens born between Jan. 1, 1985, and Dec. 31, 1997.
The researchers found that 47,433 of the 713,809 cohort members had a mental disorder diagnosis by ninth grade. Of the remaining cohort members, 25.1 percent received a mental disorder diagnosis during 7.3 million person-years of follow-up. There was a dose-response association, with no significant increase in later risk with one diagnosed classmate but an increase with more than one diagnosed classmate (hazard ratio, 1.05). The risk was highest during the first year of follow-up (hazard ratios, 1.09 and 1.18 for one and more than one diagnosed classmate, respectively), but risk was not proportional over time. The greatest risk was seen for mood, anxiety, and eating disorders. After adjustment for an array of confounders, increased risk persisted.
"These findings suggest that mental disorders may be transmitted within adolescent peer networks," the authors write. "Consequently, prevention and intervention measures that consider potential peer influences on early-life mental health could substantially reduce the disease burden of mental disorders in society."
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2024
Read this next
Combinations of Chronic, Physical Illnesses Up the Risk of Subsequent Depression
WEDNESDAY, May 21, 2025 -- Certain groups of physical multimorbidity may be associated with a higher risk of subsequent depression, according to a study published online May 13...
Adding Team Therapist Reduces Burnout for Critical Care Nurses
TUESDAY, May 20, 2025 -- For nurses in critical care areas, adding a team therapist can reduce burnout and improve resilience, according to a study presented at the American...
Calorie Restrictions, Low-Fat Diets May Reduce Depressive Symptoms
MONDAY, May 19, 2025 -- Among adults with elevated cardiometabolic risk, calorie restrictions and low-fat diets may reduce depressive symptoms, according to a review published...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.