Table 1.
Characteristics of the selected studies
| References | Country, baseline year | Design | N | Sample | NEET measure | Mental health and substance use measures | Direction(s) of associationa | Statistical Methods | Covariatesb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baggio et al. [17] | Switzerland, 2010–2012 | Cohort | 4758 | Young men in their early 20's at baseline | Current status, excluding those in the military or civic service | General mental health, depressive symptoms, alcohol use, and cannabis use disorder |
MH < – > NEET NEET– > MH MH– > NEET |
Logistic regression | Language, age, family SES |
| Bania et al. [42] | Norway, 2003–2005 | Cohort | 3987 | Youth 15–16 years old at baseline | Did not complete post-secondary school and unemployed for 1 + year, or received 6 + months of sickness benefits during the 9-year study period (2003–2012) | Conduct and emotional problems | MH– > NEET | Logistic regression | Gender, residency, ethnicity, parental education |
| Basta et al. [46] | Greece, 2016 | Cross-sectional | 2771 | Youth 15–24 years old | Current status | Anxiety and depressive symptoms, drug use | MH < – > NEET | Logistic regression | Gender, insurance, income, living with parents, being married, financial support by others |
| Benjet et al. [12] | Mexico, 2005 | Cross-sectional | 3005 | Youth 12–17 years old | Current status | Mood, anxiety, substance use and behavioural disorders, and suicidal behaviours | MH < – > NEET | Logistic regression | Age, gender, SES, marital status, having children, living with parents, parental SES |
| Bynner and Parsons [20] | United Kingdom, 1987 | Cohort | 930 | Youth 16–18 years old at baseline not in full-time education | NEET for 6 + months between 16–18 years old | Psychological distress | NEET– > MH | Logistic regression | Birth weight, cognitive abilities, hobbies, and family circumstances in childhood |
| Cairns et al. [37] | Australia, 2013 | Cross-sectional | 226 | Youth 15–25 years old seeking services | Current status, excludes those in carer role | Psychological distress, history of mental health diagnosis, and history of illicit drug use | MH < – > NEET | Multinomial logistic regression | Age, gender, secondary school dropout, psychological distress, history of mental health diagnosis, history of illicit drug use |
| Gariépy and Iyer [40] | Canada, 2014 | Cross-sectional | 5622 | Youth 15–29 years old | Current status | Depression, bipolar, generalized anxiety, alcohol use, cannabis use, and drug use disorders, and suicidal behaviours | MH < – > NEET | Logistic regression | Age, gender, SES, ethnicity, immigrant status, living arrangement, health conditions, location |
| Goldman-Mellor et al. [14] | United Kingdom, 2012–2013 | Cohort | 2232 | Twins 17–18 years old at baseline | Current status, excludes parents | Depressive, generalized anxiety, alcohol, cannabis, and conduct disorders (age 18), and childhood depressive, anxiety, substance use disorders, and suicidal behaviours (age 12) |
MH– > NEET MH < – > NEET |
Modified Poisson and logistic regression | Gender, cognitive ability, family SES, neighborhood, childhood mental health problems |
| Gutierrez-Garcia et al. [15] | Mexico, 2005 | Cohort | 1071 | Youth 12–17 years old at baseline | Current status | Mood, anxiety, alcohol use, substance use and behavioural disorders, and suicidal behaviours | NEET– > MH | Logistic regression | Gender, age, marital status, family SES |
| Gutierrez-Garcia et al. [39] | Mexico, 2013 | Cross-sectional | 1071 | Youth 19–26 years old | Current status | Mood, anxiety, behavioural, and substance use disorders; suicidal behaviours | MH < – > NEET | Logistic regression | Gender, marital status, has children, education, living with family of origin |
| Hale and Viner [49] | United Kingdom, 2004 | Cohort | 8682 | Youth 13 years old at baseline | Current status | Psychological distress | MH– > NEET | Logistic regression | SES, ethnicity and educational attainment |
| Hammerton et al. [43] |
Brazil, 2004–2005 United Kingdom, 2002–2003 |
Cohort | Brazil: 3939; UK: 5079 | Youth age 11 years old at baseline | Current status | Conduct problem and oppositional problem | MH– > NEET | Logistic regression | Sex, parental separation, fear of the neighborhood at age 11, maternal risk factors (SES, smoking, depression, unplanned pregnancy, alcohol use, urinary infection during pregnancy), birth factors (intrauterine growth restriction, gestational age, premature birth) |
| Henderson et al. [19] | Canada, 2009–2013 | Cross-sectional | 2576 | Youth 12–24 years old seeking services | Current status | Internalizing, externalizing, and substance use disorders | MH < – > NEET | Chi-square tests | Age |
| López-López et al. [41] | United Kingdom, 2002–2003 | Cohort | 4501 | Youth age 11 years old at baseline | Current status | Trajectories of depressive symptoms | MH– > NEET | Logistic regression | Sex, IQ, maternal postnatal depression, maternal education, attitude towards school and academic results at age 11 |
| Manhica et al. [48] | Sweden, 2005–2009 | Cohort | 485,839 | Youth 19–24 years old with secondary education | NEET indicator of labour market attachment in past year | Alcohol use disorder | NEET– > MH | Cox regression | Sex, age, domicile and origin |
| Nardi et al. [13] | Italy, 2010–2011 | Case–control | 228 | NEET youth from juvenile court services or the community and non-NEET youth from a technical institute, 16–23 years old | Not stated | Symptoms of nervousness, mood swings, or thoughts of suicide | MH < – > NEET | Chi-square tests | None |
| Nardi et al. [36] | Italy, 2010–2011 | Cross-sectional | 143 | Youth involved in criminal proceedings, 16–19 years old | Current status | Psychiatric disorders diagnosed by psychiatric services | MH < – > NEET | Chi-square tests | None |
| O'Dea et al. [38] | Australia, 2011–2012 | Cross-sectional | 676 | Youth seeking services 15–25 years old | Current status | Symptoms of mood, anxiety, alcohol use, and cannabis use disorders | MH < – > NEET | Logistic regression | Age, gender, criminal charges, economic hardship, self-rated disability, clinical stage |
| O'Dea et al. [16] | Australia, 2011–2012 | Cohort | 448 | Youth seeking services 15–25 years old at baseline | Past-month status | Depressive and generalized anxiety disorders |
MH– > NEET NEET– > MH |
Multinomial logistic regression and chi-square tests | Age, gender, location, immigrant background |
| Power et al. [18] | Ireland, 2000–2002 | Cohort | 168 | Youth 15–25 years old | Not stated | Mood, anxiety, alcohol, substance use disorders, and suicidal behaviours |
MH < – > NEET MH– > NEET |
Logistic regression | Gender and SES |
| Rodwell et al. [57] | Australia, 1992–1993 | Cohort | 1938 | Youth 14–15 years old at baseline | Current status | Common mental disorders; disruptive, alcohol use, and cannabis use disorders | MH– > NEET | Logistic regression | Gender, marital status, location, parental education, year |
| Stea et al. [50] | Sweden | Cross-sectional | 480 | NEET youth from vocational services and non-NEET youth attending high school, 16–21 years old | Current status | Psychological distress | MH < – > NEET | Logistic regression | Sex, parental education |
| Stea et al. [45] | Sweden | Cross-sectional | 480 | NEET youth from vocational services and non-NEET youth attending high school, 16–21 years old | Current status | Cannabis use | MH < – > NEET | Logistic regression | Sex, age, parental education |
| Symonds et al. [11] | United Kingdom, 2005 | Cohort | 11,082 | Youth 14–15 years old at baseline | Current status, excludes those caring full-time for others | Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and positive mental functioning | MH– > NEET | Linear regression | Gender, ethnicity, SES, childhood achievement |
aNEET: not in education, employment, or training; MH: mental health
bSES: socioeconomic status