Mental Health Trajectories Research Articles

Trajectories of mental health across the primary to secondary school transition

AbstractBackgroundAdolescence is a period of profound developmental change during which the prevalence of mental health problems starts to increase. It also typically coincides with a school transition. Understanding mental health trajectories through school transition is important to inform interventions to support young people's mental health during this period.MethodsIn a longitudinal study with three assessment points spaced six months apart spanning the transition from primary (T1 = end of primary school [Year 6]) to secondary school (T2 = beginning of the first year secondary school [Year 7]; T3 = end of first year of secondary school [Year 7]) we carried out a latent class growth analysis of symptoms of common mental health problems. Young people (mean age at baseline of 11.2 years, standard deviation 0.29; 46.8% female; 53.2% male) from South East England (n = 1861) were included. We modelled emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity and peer problems in parallel over the transition period. Individual‐level variables: socioeconomic status (SES), special educational need(s) (SEN), gender, negative life events (NLEs) and being worried about transition were tested as predictors of trajectory class membership using multinomial logistic regression.ResultsA model with four trajectory classes provided the best fit to the data: ‘persistently elevated’ mental health problems, ‘emotional and peer problems’, ‘hyperactivity and conduct problems’ and ‘persistently low’ mental health problems. Class membership was differentially predicted by the individual‐level variables.ConclusionsYoung people from low SES backgrounds, those with SEN and those who have experienced two or more NLEs are more likely to exhibit trajectories with elevated mental health difficulties through the transition to secondary school. Young people who were worried about transition were more likely to belong to a trajectory class characterised by elevated emotional problems.

Longitudinal correlation between poverty and mental health trajectories among low-income populations in China: a group-based dual trajectory model analysis

ABSTRACT This study aims to explore the long-term correlations between poverty and depression among low-income Chinese people. We utilise data from the China Family Panel Study 2010–2018. A group-based dual trajectory model was employed to examine the relationship between poverty and depression trajectories. The results indicate a bi-directional relationship between the distribution of poverty and depression. Moreover, there is a diversity of dynamics associated with poverty and depression. Furthermore, a stronger influence of depression on poverty changes in the interactive relationship. These findings suggest the need to develop targeted policy programmes based on the characteristics of poverty and depression trajectory patterns.

Adolescents’ trajectories of depression and anxiety symptoms prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic and their association with healthy sleep patterns

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a rise in anxiety and depression among adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal associations between sleep and mental health among a large sample of Australian adolescents and examine whether healthy sleep patterns were protective of mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We used three waves of longitudinal control group data from the Health4Life cluster-randomized trial (N = 2781, baseline Mage = 12.6, SD = 0.51; 47% boys and 1.4% ‘prefer not to say’). Latent class growth analyses across the 2 years period identified four trajectories of depressive symptoms: low-stable (64.3%), average-increasing (19.2%), high-decreasing (7.1%), moderate-increasing (9.4%), and three anxiety symptom trajectories: low-stable (74.8%), average-increasing (11.6%), high-decreasing (13.6%). We compared the trajectories on sociodemographic and sleep characteristics. Adolescents in low-risk trajectories were more likely to be boys and to report shorter sleep latency and wake after sleep onset, longer sleep duration, less sleepiness, and earlier chronotype. Where mental health improved or worsened, sleep patterns changed in the same direction. The subgroups analyses uncovered two important findings: (1) the majority of adolescents in the sample maintained good mental health and sleep habits (low-stable trajectories), (2) adolescents with worsening mental health also reported worsening sleep patterns and vice versa in the improving mental health trajectories. These distinct patterns of sleep and mental health would not be seen using mean-centred statistical approaches.

Impostor Phenomenon and Impact on Women Surgeons: A Canadian Cross-Sectional Survey.

This project aims to characterize the extent and nature of impostor phenomenon (IP) among women surgeons in Canada. IP is well documented among medical professionals and trainees. It is known to have significant impacts on mental health and career trajectory. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of self-identifying women who have completed a surgical residency and currently or most recently practiced in Canada. Among 387 respondents, 98.7% have experienced IP. Median IP score corresponded to frequent impostor feelings or high impostorism. Self-doubt affects most women surgeons for the first time during training. It tends to be most intense in the first 5 years of practice and lessens over time. One hundred twelve (31.5%) surgeons experience self-doubt in the operating room (OR). Due to self-doubt, 110 (28.4%) respondents preferred to work with a more experienced assistant in the OR, whereas 40 (10.4%) stated that they would only operate with an experienced assistant. Few surgeons take on less OR time due to self-doubt (29 [7.5%]), but 60 (16.5%) take on fewer complex cases due to self-doubt. A small but important number of surgeons (11 [2.8%]) had given up operating altogether due to self-doubt. Due to feelings of self-doubt, 107 (21.4%) respondents were hesitant to take on a leadership role in the workplace. IP is a nearly universal experience among women surgeons and is influential in their professional lives. This study contributes to scientific knowledge that can advance gender equity in medicine and leadership.

Job Loss Due to COVID-19: A Longitudinal Study of Mental Health, Protective and Risk Factors.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on unemployment, which-compounded by the additional stressors associated with the pandemic-had considerable mental health impact. The current study examined the trajectory of mental health amongst those experiencing pandemic-related job loss, alongside the impact of risk and protective factors. Data were obtained from 374 Australian participants who were allocated to a waitlist control arm of a randomised control trial. The outcome variables assessed at baseline and six-month follow-up consisted of depression, anxiety, and suicidality. The assessed risk and protective factors were age, gender, relationship status, education, exercise frequency, COVID-related stress, dispositional resilience, and coping self-efficacy. Re-employment by follow-up was used as a covariate. Overall, there were decreases in depression and anxiety symptoms, and partial evidence of decreased suicidality, demonstrating an apparent capacity for individuals to better cope with their circumstances over time. Demographics and exercise had no effect on changes in mental health. Those with high COVID-related stress, low resilience, and low coping self-efficacy had worse mental health at baseline, although exhibited significantly greater improvements in mental health over time. Obtaining re-employment by follow-up did not predict changes in mental health. The present results offer an optimistic picture of recovery for those experiencing pandemic-related job loss, even for those with the most substantial risk and severity. The likely protective role played by Australian social welfare policies over the course of the study is explored. Stress around one's broader sociocultural or economic circumstances, perceived resilience, and coping self-efficacy are valuable targets for intervention.

The Relationship Between Self-Reported Childhood Maltreatment and Mental Health in Substance Use Disorders: A 6-Year Retrospective Analysis

Objective This longitudinal cohort study aims to investigate the relationship between self-reported childhood maltreatment (CM) and the retrospective trajectory of substance use, mental health, and satisfaction with life in individuals with substance use disorders. Methods One hundred eleven treatment-seeking individuals with substance use disorder were recruited from clinical settings and monitored prospectively for 6 years. The participants’ substance use, mental health, and satisfaction with life were assessed using standardized measures. Cluster analysis divided the cohort into two groups—low CM and high CM—based on their scores on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form at year 6. Mixed-effects linear models were fitted to assess the association between longitudinal scores on drug use, mental health, and satisfaction with life and CM group. Results Most participants (92%) reported at least 1 CM. Out of all participants, 36% were categorized into the high-CM group, while 59% were categorized into the low-CM group. CM group was not associated with the amount of substance or alcohol use. CM group was significantly associated with the longitudinal course of mental health and life satisfaction. Conclusions This study underscores the association between self-reported CM and mental health and life satisfaction in patients with substance use disorder. Our results may imply an increased risk of adverse outcomes in patients with high levels of CM, while bearing in mind that both current and retrospective mental health and substance use problems can influence the accuracy of recalling CM.

Developmental Trajectories of Mental Health in Chinese Early Adolescents: School Climate and Future Orientation as Predictors.

There is growing support for the dual-continua model of mental health, which emphasizes psychopathology and well-being as related but distinct dimensions. Yet, little is known about how these dimensions co-develop from childhood to early adolescence and what factors predict their different trajectories. The current study aimed to identify distinct patterns of mental health in Chinese early adolescents, focusing on both psychopathological symptoms (i.e., depressive symptoms and self-harm behaviors) and subjective well-being (i.e., life satisfaction and affect balance). This study also examined the contributions of school climate and future orientation to these trajectories. A total of 1,057 students (Mage = 11.88, SDage = 1.67; 62.1% boys) completed four assessments over two years, with six-month intervals. Using parallel-process latent class growth modeling, we identified four groups: Flourishing (32.5%), Languishing (43.8%), Troubled with Stable Depressive Symptoms (16.1%), and Troubled with Increasing Self-Harm Risk (7.6%). Furthermore, school climate and future orientation contributed to adolescents' membership in these trajectories, either independently or jointly. Specifically, higher levels of future orientation combined with higher school climate were associated with a lower likelihood of belonging to the Troubled with Increasing Self-Harm Risk trajectory, compared to the Flourishing group. Our findings identified four distinct mental health trajectories consistent with the dual-continua model, and demonstrated that the development of psychopathology and well-being were not always inversely related (e.g., the Languishing group). Adolescents with unique developmental profiles may benefit from tailored intervention strategies that build on the personal and environmental assets of the adolescent.

Latent profiles of emotion regulation among university students: links to repetitive negative thinking, internet addiction, and subjective wellbeing.

Recent years have seen a deterioration in the mental health of university students and notable surge in the need for psychological support. Due to its links to psychopathology and high-risk behaviors, difficulty in emotion regulation frequently serves as a transdiagnostic dimension. This cross-sectional study used a person-centered analytical approach (latent profile analysis; LPA) to identify groups of Portuguese university students with similar profiles of emotion regulation difficulties (N = 261; Mage = 22.5 ± 1.2 years; n = 213 female) and describe how these groups differ in their presentation of repetitive negative thinking, internet addiction, and subjective wellbeing. The analyses identified four latent profiles: 14.5% of students showed global dysregulation (the Low Emotion Regulation Profile), 23% were moderately dysregulated with elevated problems in goal-directed behavior (the Moderate Emotion Regulation Profile), 8% showed specific difficulties with low emotional awareness and clarity (the Low Insight Profile), and 54.4% showed adaptive emotion regulation (the High Emotion Regulation Profile). As anticipated, the Low Emotion Regulation Profile had the lowest subjective wellbeing and the highest prevalence of repetitive negative thinking and internet addiction. Students with a Low Insight Profile also showed low subjective wellbeing, but less repetitive negative thinking compared to the Low Emotion Regulation Profile. Our findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving health and wellbeing among university students should consider each student's unique set of emotion regulation difficulties, rather than focusing on particular strategies. Further research may help determine whether emotion regulation profiles can serve as predictive indicators of varying mental health trajectories and subjective wellbeing in university students.

Greater within- and between-day instability is associated with worse anxiety and depression symptoms

BackgroundDepression and anxiety affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and their prevalence increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as social schedules were disrupted. This study explores the associations between anxiety and depression and within- and between-day instability of affective, somatic, and cognitive symptoms during the early pandemic stages. MethodsParticipants (n = 153, ages 18–77, 72 % female) reported daily levels of affective (anxiety/sadness), somatic (appetite/sleepiness), and cognitive (concentration/energy) symptoms for 14–44 days at five timepoints: 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 h after awakening. At the end of the study, participants completed validated scales for anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9). Symptom instability was assessed using the Absolute Real Variability (ARV) index. Regression models examined within-day instability (WD-I) and between-day instability (BD-I) with GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores as outcomes. ResultsGreater instability (both WD-I and BD-I) of affective symptoms correlated with elevated GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores. For somatic and cognitive symptoms, greater BD-I was associated with higher scores. LimitationsThe study used retrospective daily data, which could benefit from real-time assessments for improved accuracy. ConclusionsThis study provides empirical evidence of a connection between greater anxiety and depression severity and increased instability in daily mood and physiological symptoms. The findings underscore the importance of consistent symptom monitoring to understand overall mental health trajectories. Additionally, it highlights the role of daily routines in stabilizing the circadian system, potentially regulating physiological and psychological processes and reducing symptom instability.

Особенности развития и психическое здоровье близнецов раннего возраста: обзор отечественных и зарубежных исследований

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objectives. </strong>Due to the increasing birth rate of twins and the high risk of delayed physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development in twins at an early age, there is a need to identify factors that contribute to the mental health and developmental trajectory of children.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods. </strong>We conducted a review and analysis of recent domestic and international research from 183 articles published between 2009 and 2024, and available in the Scopus, Semantic Scholar, PubMed, Bielefeld Academic Search Engine, Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI) and Crossref databases. The search used the keywords “infant twins”, “twins at early age”, “twins early development”, “twins interaction”.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results. </strong>The interest of researchers in different aspects of the mental health and development of children born from monozygotic and dizygotic twin pregnancies is shown. The main factors affecting the health and development of twins are genetic factors, congenital defects, gestational age and birth weight, the presence of trauma during birth, as well as the somatic health of children in the first months of life. The early development of twins is closely related to the features of the care organization and parenting, interaction with the mother, as with a caring adult, a set of environmental factors and conditions for the education. At an early age, twins are at high risk of lagging in general physical, cognitive and speech impairment development compared with singleton, which should be taken into account in monitoring the need for early help for children.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusions. </strong>There is a need for relevant domestic research on the features of the development of twins at an early age. The study of the individual trajectory of early development of each child from twins should be carried out taking into account the factor of discordance in a twin pair.</p>

Young adults’ work-family life courses and mental health trajectories from adolescence to young adulthood: a TRAILS study

PurposeWork-family life courses have been associated with mental health at various time points in life but little is known about how mental health develops during these work-family life courses. The aim of this study was to examine mental health trajectories from adolescence to young adulthood in women and men with different work-family life courses.MethodsData from 992 young adults participating in the 18-year follow-up TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS) were used. Work-family life courses from ages 18 to 28 years were previously constructed using sequence analysis. For each work-family life course, trajectories of internalising and externalising problems from ages 11 to 29 years were estimated using a multi-group random intercept growth model. Differences in mental health trajectories were examined across work-family life courses.ResultsFor women, trajectories of internalising and externalising problems in young adulthood differed significantly between work-family life courses (p = 0.037 and p < 0.001, respectively). Women in the inactive work-family life course reported the highest scores of internalising and externalising problems during the entire young adulthood but the differences in mental health scores became most pronounced at age 29. Trajectories of internalising and externalising problems of men did not significantly differ between the work-family life courses.ConclusionMental health trajectories differed between women depending on their work-family life course. In men, differences between work-family life courses were less pronounced. Future studies should examine which work-family events and transitions captured in work-family life courses are associated with subsequent mental health problems during longer follow-up.

Principles to guide research and policy on psychological well-being in remote island developing states in the South Pacific.

Adverse climatic changes around the globe and predictions of catastrophic and irreversible alteration in global weather patterns, temperature rise, and coast-line habitability require a careful examination of consequences on the resilience and mental health of people who will endure these changes. This paper is concerned with the South Pacific region. This geography has benefited from a relatively stable climate that is seen in the lush and vibrant natural world with many unique species of plants and animals exclusively found here. This paper examines the psychological profile of the people in the South Pacific using an evolutionary framework, and considers their local climate risks and lifestyle patterns with the aim of exploring possible mental health trajectories.

Where you begin is not necessarily where you end: the mental and physical health trajectories of cancer caregivers over time.

Cancer caregiving, a critical component in the cancer-care model, has deleterious effects on the caregiver's physical and mental health. The degree to which these negative effects are uniformly experienced by caregivers is unclear; effects may be exacerbated at the end of life when caregiving is intensified. Not all caregivers have the support of an additional involved support person (secondary caregiver). The impact of the secondary caregiver's absence on the primary caregiver's well-being is understudied. Terminal cancer patient-caregiver dyads (n = 223) were recruited from oncology clinics and followed for six months or until patient death. Longitudinal latent growth models were used to characterize the heterogeneity of caregiver physical health and depressive symptoms; characteristics associated with these trajectories are examined. Caregivers were majority female (74%), white (55%) and patient spouses (60%). Two physical health (moderate, stable; initially good, declining) and two depressive symptom (moderate, stable; high, increasing) trajectories were identified. Declining physical health was more likely among caregivers who were healthiest at baseline, had higher levels of education, lower subjective burden, fewer depressive symptoms, cared for patients with fewer functional limitations and reported fewer caregiving tasks rendered by a secondary caregiver. Those with increasing depressive symptoms were more likely to be white, patient's wife, have higher subjective caregiver burden, lower physical health, and care for a patient with greater functional limitations. Decreasing physical health was evident among caregivers who were initially healthier and reported less assistance from secondary caregivers. Increasing depression was seen in white, female spouses with higher subjective burden. Sample heterogeneity revealed hidden groups unexpectedly at risk in the primary cancer caregiver role to which the oncology care team should be alert.

Social Defeat Stress Model for Adolescent C57BL/6 Male and Female Mice.

Social adversity in adolescence is prevalent and can negatively impact mental health trajectories. Modeling social stress in adolescent male and female rodents is needed to understand its effects on ongoing brain development and behavioral outcomes. The chronic social defeat stress paradigm (CSDS) has been widely used to model social stress in adult C57BL/6 male mice by leveraging on the aggressive behavior displayed by an adult male rodent to an intruder invading its territory. An advantage of this paradigm is that it allows to categorize defeated mice into resilient and susceptible groups based on their individual differences in social behavior 24 h after the last defeat session. Implementing this model in adolescent C57BL/6 mice has been challenging because adult or adolescent mice do not typically attack early adolescent male or female mice and because adolescence is a short period of life, encompassing discreet temporal windows of vulnerability. This limitation was overcome by adapting an accelerated version of the CSDS to be used for adolescent male and female mice. This 4-day stress paradigm with 2 physical attack sessions per day uses a C57BL/6 male adult to prime the CD-1 mouse for aggressiveness such that it readily attacks the male or female adolescent mouse. This model was termed accelerated social defeat stress (AcSD) for adolescent mice. Adolescent exposure to AcSD induces social avoidance 24 h later in both males and females, but only in a subset of defeated mice. This vulnerability occurs despite the number of attacks being consistent across sessions between resilient and susceptible groups. The AcSD model is short enough to allow exposure during discrete periods within adolescence, allows the segregation of mice according to the presence or absence of social avoidance behavior, and is the first model available to study social defeat stress in adolescent C57BL/6 female mice.

Nursing students’ emotions, educational concerns, and the impact of study careers and professional futures during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundCOVID-19 is a challenge to education systems worldwide. The aim of the study was to explore the impact of COVID-19-pandemic-related emotions and COVID-19-related concern for education on the study careers and professional futures of nursing students.MethodsThe study was completed between March and June 2023 using a multi-stage sampling design. A total of 1126 nursing students were recruited to complete the questionnaire. The self-administered questionnaire consisted of basic characteristics of the subjects, the COVID-19-pandemic-related emotions scale, the COVID-19-related concern for education scale, and the impact of the COVID-19 on study careers and professional futures scale (SCPFI-19 S). One-way ANOVA/t-test, correlation coefficient analysis, and hierarchical linear regression analysis were used to explore factors influencing changes in study careers and professional futures, and the relationship between COVID-19-pandemic-related emotions and COVID-19-related concern for education.ResultsUnivariate analysis of variance indicated that residence, willingness, and whether to engage in nursing after graduation were related to SCPFI-19 S (P < 0.05). COVID-19-pandemic-related emotions and COVID-19-related concern for education were significantly and positively associated with SCPFI-19 S (r = 0.566, P < 0.01; r = 0.199, P < 0.01). Stratified multiple regression analysis showed that COVID-19-pandemic-related emotions and COVID-19-related concern for education of nursing students were significant predictors of SCPFI-19 S.ConclusionOverall, both COVID-19-pandemic-related emotions and COVID-19-related concern for education were significantly correlated with SCPFI-19 S. In future interventions, schools should consider structures and strategies to support students’ mental health and educational trajectories during current and future epidemics or similar crises.

Symptom Trajectories of Youth in Live-In Treatment Facilities Before, During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT COVID-19 and contagion mitigation efforts forced health care workers to very quickly develop and implement new policies aimed at reducing virus transmission. Such safety measures, while helping to reduce COVID-19 may result in decreased therapeutic effectiveness. We examined the impact of COVID-19, as well as several individual differences on the mental and behavioral health trajectories of 176 youths residing in several live-in treatment centers (M age = 15.30 years). Longitudinal data were collected at Intake, Discharge and 6-months post treatment, with timepoints spanning before and after COVID-19 lockdown. We observed an interaction between COVID-19 and prior substance use; youth who reported drug or alcohol use in the 30 days prior to Intake had worse treatment trajectories compared to those without prior use, but only when treatment started before lockdown mandates were implemented. For youth who entered treatment after lockdown had started, there was no difference in treatment outcomes between those with and without prior substance use. We also found an effect of family functioning whereby youth with more adaptive family functioning had better treatment trajectories. Practical implications are discussed.

Investigating the landscape and trajectory of mental health in the school setting: a bibliometric analysis

Investigating the landscape and trajectory of mental health in the school setting: a bibliometric analysis

Commentary on the power of predictability: patterns of signals in early life shape neurodevelopment and mental health trajectories.

As Davis and Glynn observe in the introduction to their review, early life adversity is a significant impediment to healthy child development. Whereas some theoretical accounts emphasize the sheer number of physical and psychosocial risk factors children experience (Evans, Li, & Whipple, Psychological Bulletin, 2013, 139, 1342), Davis and Glynn review a program of research that is aligned with models highlighting the types of adversity children encounter. They expand on accounts that differentiate threat from deprivation (McLaughlin & Sheridan, Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2016, 25, 239) to draw attention to the role of unpredictability in children's development.

Transdiagnostic and tailored internet intervention to improve mental health among university students: Research protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundEmerging adulthood is often associated with mental health problems. About one in three university students report symptoms of depression and anxiety that can negatively affect their developmental trajectory concerning work, intimate relationships, and health. This can interfere with academic performance, as mood and anxiety disorders are key predictors of dropout from higher education. A treatment gap exists, where a considerable proportion of students do not seek help for mood and anxiety symptoms. Offering internet interventions to students with mental health problems could reduce the treatment gap, increase mental health, and improve academic performance. A meta-analysis on internet interventions for university students showed small effects for depression and none for anxiety. Larger trials are recommended to further explore effects of guidance, transdiagnostic approaches, and individual treatment components.MethodsThis study will offer 1200 university students in Sweden participation in a three-armed randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating a guided or unguided transdiagnostic internet intervention for mild to moderate depression and anxiety, where the waitlist control group accesses the intervention at 6-month follow-up. Students reporting suicidal ideation/behaviors will be excluded and referred to treatment within the existing healthcare system. An embedded study within the trial (SWAT) will assess at week 3 of 8 whether participants in the guided and unguided groups are at higher risk of failing to benefit from treatment. Those at risk will be randomized to an adaptive treatment strategy, or to continue the treatment as originally randomized. Primary outcomes are symptoms of depression and anxiety. Follow-ups will occur at post-treatment and at 6-, 12-, and 24-month post-randomization. Between-group outcome analyses will be reported, and qualitative interviews about treatment experiences are planned.DiscussionThis study investigates the effects of a transdiagnostic internet intervention among university students in Sweden, with an adaptive treatment strategy employed during the course of treatment to minimize the risk of treatment failure. The study will contribute knowledge about longitudinal trajectories of mental health and well-being following treatment, taking into account possible gender differences in responsiveness to treatment. With time, effective internet interventions could make treatment for mental health issues more widely accessible to the student group.

Gender, marginalised groups, and young people’s mental health: a longitudinal analysis of trajectories

BackgroundIndividuals from marginalised groups experience higher levels of mental health difficulties and lower levels of wellbeing which may be due to the exposure to stress and adversity. This study explores trajectories of mental health over time for young women and girls and young people with other marginalised identities.MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis on N = 14,215 children and young people (7,501 or 52.8% female, 6,571 or 46.2% male, and 81 or 0.6% non-binary or questioning) who completed a survey at age 11 to 12 years and at least one other annual survey aged 12 to 13 years and/or aged 13 to 14 years. We used group-based trajectory models to examine mental health difficulties.ResultsExcept for behavioural difficulties, young women’s and girls’ trajectories showed that they consistently had higher levels of mental health difficulties compared to young men and boys. A similar pattern was shown for non-binary and questioning children and young people. Children and young people with economic disadvantage and/or special education needs, and/or for whom there were welfare concerns, were generally more likely to experience higher levels of mental health difficulties.ConclusionsThis information could inform public policy, guidance and interventions.