Table 2.
Testing changes in psychological distress over time among young adults aged 16–24 living in England, by different subgroups
| Subgroups | Between 2009–2010 and 2018–2019 (n=5873) |
Between 2018–2019 and April–November 2020 (n=4302) |
||||
| AME of time on GHQ | 95% CI | Interaction p value | AME of time on GHQ | 95% CI | Interaction p value | |
| All | 1.66 | 1.25 to 2.07 | 1.96 | 1.27 to 2.66 | ||
| Sex | 0.024 | 0.364 | ||||
| Male | 1.25 | 0.73 to 1.76 | 1.65 | 0.64 to 2.66 | ||
| Female | 2.09 | 1.51 to 2.66 | 2.26 | 1.26 to 3.16 | ||
| Age | <0.001 | 0.695 | ||||
| 16–18 | 2.64 | 2.04 to 3.23 | 1.28 | −0.71 to 3.26 | ||
| 19–21 | 1.15 | 0.53 to 1.78 | 0.001 | 2.02 | 1.10 to 2.94 | 0.474 |
| 22–24 | 0.86 | −0.01 to 1.72 | 0.001 | 2.23 | 1.21 to 3.25 | 0.396 |
| Economic activity | 0.103 | 0.899 | ||||
| FT employed | 0.84 | 0.11 to 1.58 | 1.89 | 0.93 to 2.85 | ||
| PT employed | 2.16 | 1.05 to 3.27 | 0.049 | 1.88 | 0.71 to 3.04 | 0.991 |
| Unemployed | 2.15 | 0.68 to 3.62 | 0.114 | 1.95 | −0.57 to 4.47 | 0.962 |
| FT education | 1.61 | 1.11 to 2.11 | 0.083 | 2.03 | 0.76 to 3.30 | 0.851 |
| Out of labour force | 3.59 | 0.99 to 6.20 | 0.045 | 0.41 | −2.50 to 3.31 | 0.343 |
| Living arrangements | 0.861 | 0.447 | ||||
| With parent(s) | 1.68 | 1.26 to 2.09 | 2.04 | 1.29 to 2.78 | ||
| Not with parent(s) | 1.54 | 0.08 to 3.01 | 1.41 | −0.06 to 2.88 | ||
| Parental education | 0.117 | 0.916 | ||||
| Degree | 1.87 | 1.36 to 2.39 | 1.93 | 1.04 to 2.81 | ||
| No degree | 1.24 | 0.62 to 1.86 | 1.99 | 1.10 to 2.87 | ||
| Area deprivation | 0.642 | 0.021 | ||||
| Most deprived | 1.29 | 0.46 to 2.12 | 4.11 | 2.41 to 5.81 | ||
| Second most deprived | 1.92 | 1.11 to 2.74 | 0.525 | 1.36 | 0.22 to 2.51 | 0.454 |
| Second least deprived | 1.53 | 0.77 to 2.29 | 0.902 | 1.80 | 0.44 to 3.15 | 0.823 |
| Least deprived | 1.86 | 1.16 to 2.55 | 0.301 | 1.21 | 0.30 to 2.11 | 0.002 |
| Ethnicity | 0.006 | 0.394 | ||||
| White UK | 1.96 | 1.50 to 2.42 | 1.78 | 0.98 to 2.59 | ||
| White other | 2.08 | −0.68 to 4.84 | 0.933 | 2.55 | −1.61 to 6.71 | 0.722 |
| Mixed | −0.24 | −1.56 to 1.10 | 0.002 | 4.43 | 2.04 to 6.81 | 0.037 |
| Indian | 1.54 | −0.38 to 3.46 | 0.673 | 2.28 | −0.69 to 5.24 | 0.755 |
| Pakistani and Bangladeshi | 0.35 | −1.03 to 1.74 | 0.029 | 2.25 | 1.05 to 3.46 | 0.514 |
| Black | 0.04 | −1.68 to 1.77 | 0.033 | 0.87 | −1.77 to 3.51 | 0.510 |
| Other ethnic groups | −0.98 | −2.75 to 0.79 | 0.002 | 3.60 | 0.69 to 6.51 | 0.234 |
Understanding Society, from 2009–2010 to 2018–2019 and from 2018–2019 to 2020.
Estimates come from fully adjusted linear models in pooled samples of observations using the wave-specific cross-sectional weights, clustering on individuals. Interactions were then tested for each variable in separate models. AMEs are based on complete-case models adjusted for all other predictors (age, sex, economic activity, living arrangements, parental education, area deprivation and ethnicity).
P values reported next to variable names refer to global tests of differences in AMEs across categories. P values reported next to variable categories refer to test of differences in AMEs with respect to the reference group.
Significant estimates at p<0.05 are in bold.
AME, average marginal effect; FT, full time; GHQ, General Health Questionnaire; PT, part time.