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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2008 Mar 1;99(2):125–129. doi: 10.1007/BF03405459

A Systematic Review of Depressed Mood and Anxiety by SES in Youth Aged 10–15 Years

Mark Lemstra 111,, Cory Neudorf 111, Carl D’Arcy 211, Anton Kunst 311, Lynne M Warren 111, Norman R Bennett 111
PMCID: PMC6975760  PMID: 18457287

Abstract

Objectives

A majority of population-based studies suggest prevalence of depressed mood and anxiety is most common during late adolescence to early adulthood. Mental health status has been linked previously to socio-economic status in adults. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to clarify if socio-economic status (SES) is a risk indicator of depressed mood or anxiety in youth between the ages of 10 to 15 years old.

Methods

We performed a systematic literature review to identify published or unpublished papers between January 1, 1 980 and October 31, 2006 that reviewed depressed mood or anxiety by SES in youth aged 10–15 years.

Synthesis

We found nine studies that fulfilled our inclusion criteria and passed the methodological quality review. The prevalence of depressed mood or anxiety was 2.49 times higher (95% CI 2.33–2.67) in youth with low SES in comparison to youth with higher SES.

Discussion

The evidence suggests that low SES has an inverse association with the prevalence of depressed mood and anxiety in youth between the ages of 10 to 15 years old. Higher rates of depressed mood and anxiety among lower socio-economic status youth may impact emotional development and limit future educational and occupational achievement.

Conclusion

Lower socio-economic status is associated with higher rates of depressed mood and anxiety in youth.

Key words: Depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, mental health, socioeconomic factors, youth

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