NEET status among young Greeks: Association with mental health and substance use.
Adolescent
Adult
Depression
Depressive Disorder
/ epidemiology
Employment
/ statistics & numerical data
Female
Greece
/ epidemiology
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Random Allocation
Substance-Related Disorders
/ epidemiology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Unemployment
/ statistics & numerical data
Young Adult
Anxiety
Cannabis
Depression
Education
Greece
Smoking
Work
Journal
Journal of affective disorders
ISSN: 1573-2517
Titre abrégé: J Affect Disord
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 7906073
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
15 06 2019
15 06 2019
Historique:
received:
20
01
2019
revised:
27
03
2019
accepted:
21
04
2019
pubmed:
6
5
2019
medline:
9
4
2020
entrez:
5
5
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Prior studies have shown that young people "not in education, employment or training" ("NEET") are at higher risk for psychopathology and substance abuse. Similar studies are lacking in Southern European populations. We aimed to examine the associations of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and substance use with NEET status in a large, randomized population-based sample in Greece. A telephone structured questionnaire was conducted in a representative sample of 2771 young Greeks aged 15-24 years. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed with GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales, respectively. Substances use and several sociodemographic parameters were also examined. In our sample 16.4% were NEETs. In multivariate analyses, NEETs compared to non-NEETs were older, with lower family income, without insurance and more likely to be married and smoke. Furthermore, NEET status was associated with a higher GAD-7 score among older NEETs and long-term NEETs (NEETs unemployed for more than a year). Moreover, being NEET among older participants was associated with severe symptoms of anxiety and moderate/severe symptoms of depression. This was a telephone survey and a clinical evaluation of the patients was not performed. Furthermore, the structured interview was not designed to detect the level of substance use or the reasons for being NEET. NEET status is frequent among young Greeks. Older, and long-term NEETs appear to be at higher risk for presenting anxiety/depression symptoms. Whether NEET status is associated with adverse outcomes later in life requires longitudinal studies.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Prior studies have shown that young people "not in education, employment or training" ("NEET") are at higher risk for psychopathology and substance abuse. Similar studies are lacking in Southern European populations. We aimed to examine the associations of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and substance use with NEET status in a large, randomized population-based sample in Greece.
METHODS
A telephone structured questionnaire was conducted in a representative sample of 2771 young Greeks aged 15-24 years. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed with GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales, respectively. Substances use and several sociodemographic parameters were also examined.
RESULTS
In our sample 16.4% were NEETs. In multivariate analyses, NEETs compared to non-NEETs were older, with lower family income, without insurance and more likely to be married and smoke. Furthermore, NEET status was associated with a higher GAD-7 score among older NEETs and long-term NEETs (NEETs unemployed for more than a year). Moreover, being NEET among older participants was associated with severe symptoms of anxiety and moderate/severe symptoms of depression.
LIMITATIONS
This was a telephone survey and a clinical evaluation of the patients was not performed. Furthermore, the structured interview was not designed to detect the level of substance use or the reasons for being NEET.
CONCLUSIONS
NEET status is frequent among young Greeks. Older, and long-term NEETs appear to be at higher risk for presenting anxiety/depression symptoms. Whether NEET status is associated with adverse outcomes later in life requires longitudinal studies.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31054446
pii: S0165-0327(19)30176-4
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.04.095
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
210-217Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.