and health development among school-age children in the Nordic countries.
Increased mental health problems and decreasing school achievement among adolescents: a Nordic challenge We are in the midst of major societal changes that have an impact on the situation and future of children and especially young people. 252 Adolescence is a stage that brings many changes in different spheres of life – physical, sexual, cognitive, identity, and in terms of relationships with parents, siblings, and peers. 253 Adolescence is also a period in which a person’s health and health behaviour can have serious consequences for health later in life. At the individual level, the health of young people is strongly influenced by social factors at the personal, family, neighbourhood, and national levels. At a global level, the strongest determinants of young people’s health are structural factors such as national wealth, income inequality, and access to education. 254 Although most young people enjoy good mental health, physical, emotional, and social changes, including exposure to poverty, exploitation, or violence can make them vulnerable to various forms of mental health problems. 255 Young people face many challenges such as increasing academic expectations, changes in social relationships with family and peers, and physical and emotional changes associated with increasing maturity. They become increasingly independent and make decisions that shape their health, behaviour, education, and future socioeconomic opportunities. Youth is also a time of experimenting with such phenomena as being out of direct parental control, trying alcohol and drugs, staying away from home, and having the first sexual experiences. 256 In the process of increasing independence, habits develop which can have long-term significance for health and wellbeing.
Seiffge-Krenke, I. (2017). Does adolescents’ psychopathology change in times of change? Journal of Adolescence, 61, 107–112. 253 Shulman, S., & Scharf, M. (2018). Adolescent psychopathology in times of change: The need for integrating a developmental psychopathology perspective. Journal of Adolescence, 65, 95–100. 254 Viener, R. M., Ozer, E. M., Marmot, M., Resnick, M., & Currie, C. (2012). Adolescent health 2. Adolescence and the social determinants of health. The Lancet, 379(April 28), 1641–1652. 255 WHO. (2018). Adolescents: Health risks and solutions. http://www.who.int/en/news-room/factsheets/detail/adolescents-health-risks-and-solutions 256 Seiffge-Krenke, I. (2017). Does adolescents’ psychopathology change in times of change? Journal of Adolescence, 61, 107–112. 252
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