Mental health of adolescents associated with sexual and reproductive outcomes: a systematic review

Sexually transmitted infection and teenage pregnancy in adolescents having parents with schizophrenia: a retrospective cohort study of 64,350 participants

BACKGROUND

The risks of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and teenage pregnancy in the offspring of parents with schizophrenia remain unknown.

METHODS

From the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, 5,850 individuals born between 1980 and 1999 having any parent with schizophrenia and 58,500 age-, sex-, income- and residence-matched controls without parents with severe mental disorders were enrolled in 1996 or on their birthdate and followed up to the end of 2011. Those who contracted any STI or became pregnant in adolescence during the follow-up period were identified.

RESULTS

Cox regression analyses demonstrated that offspring of parents with schizophrenia (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.44), especially daughters (HR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.06-1.58), were more likely to contract any STI later in life than the control comparisons. In addition, daughters of parents with schizophrenia had an elevated risk of being pregnant in their adolescence (HR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.29-1.67) compared with those having no parents with severe mental disorders.

DISCUSSION

The positive relationship between parental schizophrenia and offspring STIs and teenage pregnancy necessitates clinicians and public health officers to closely monitor the sexual health in the offspring of parents with schizophrenia so that optimal and prompt preventive measures can be taken in the at-risk group.

Mental health outcomes beyond the post-partum period among adolescent mothers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Adolescence is the most crucial part of life. The vulnerability of adolescent mothers is even more pronounced and can affect various health aspects. While they suffer from social and emotional stresses shortly after giving birth, the long-term effect after the post-partum period of adolescent pregnancy on the mental outcomes holds prime importance. Thus, this systematic review aims to ascertain the association between adolescent pregnancy on mental health outcomes.

Methods

The search strategy was run in June 2023 on databases including PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Psych Info, and Embase . Quality assessment of the studies was done using the National Institute of Health (NIH)'s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) tool for observational studies. For studies that measured similar outcomes, a meta-analysis was conducted.

Findings

The search strategy yielded 21 results from all databases and cross-referencing. Of these, all except for one (case-control) were cross-sectional and cohort studies. The pooled analysis found a significant association between adolescent pregnancy and depression (RR 1.34; 95% CI 1.05, 1.72, 6 studies, heterogeneity: Chi2 P 0.01; I2 = 60%); however, no association was found in anxiety (RR 1.05; 95% CI 0.26, 4.14, 2 studies; heterogeneity: Chi² P = 0.0003; I2 = 93%) and suicidal ideation (RR 3.21; 95% CI 0.17, 59.33; 3 studies; heterogeneity: Chi2 P < 0.00001; I2 = 98%).

Implication

These findings suggest that the mental health needs of adolescent mothers must be addressed and innovative and effective interventions that support and address the mental health needs of adolescent mothers are needed to improve their mental health.

Prevalence of mental disorders in South Asia: A systematic review of reviews

Mental disorders are increasing in South Asia (SA), but their epidemiological burden is under-researched. We carried out a systematic umbrella review to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders and intentional self-harm in the region. Multiple databases were searched and systematic reviews reporting the prevalence of at least one mental disorder from countries in SA were included. Review data were narratively synthesised; primary studies of common mental disorders (CMDs) among adults were identified from a selected subset of reviews and pooled. We included 124 reviews. The majority (n = 65) reported on mood disorders, followed by anxiety disorders (n = 45). High prevalence of mental disorders and intentional self-harm was found in general adult and vulnerable populations. Two reviews met our pre-defined criteria for identifying primary studies of CMDs. Meta-analysis of 25 primary studies showed a pooled prevalence of 16.0% (95% CI = 11.0-22.0%, I 2 = 99.9%) for depression, 12.0% (5.0-21.0%, I 2 = 99.9%) for anxiety, and 14.0% (10.0-19.0, I 2 = 99.9%) for both among the general adult population; pooled estimates varied by country and assessment tool used. Overall, reviews suggest high prevalence for mental disorders in SA, but evidence is limited on conditions other than CMDs.

Interventions to prevent unintended pregnancies among adolescents: a rapid overview of systematic reviews

Risks associated with unintended pregnancy include unsafe abortions, poor maternal health-seeking behaviour, poor mental health, and potentially, maternal and infant deaths. Adolescent girls with unintended pregnancies are particularly vulnerable as they are at higher risk of eclampsia, premature onset of labour, and increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. Unintended pregnancy, with the right combination of interventions, can be avoided. Evidence-based decision-making and the need for a robust appraisal of the evidence have resulted in many systematic reviews. This review of systematic reviews focuses on adolescent pregnancy prevention and will seek to facilitate evidence-based decision-making. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the methodological quality of each review according to the AMSTAR 2 criteria. We identified three systematic reviews from low- and middle-income countries and high-income counties and included all socioeconomic groups. We used vote counting and individual narrative review summaries to present the results. Overall, skill-building, peer-led and abstinence programmes were generally effective. Interventions focused on information only, counselling and interactive sessions provided mixed results.In contrast, exposure to parenting and delaying sexual debut interventions were generally ineffective. Adolescent pregnancy prevention interventions that deploy school-based primary prevention strategies, i.e. strategies that prevent unintended pregnancies in the first place, may effectively reduce teenage pregnancy rates, improve contraceptive use, attitudes and knowledge, and delay sexual debut. However, the included studies have methodological issues, and our ability to generalise the result is limited.

Depressive symptomatology in pregnant adolescents: considerations for care

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Adolescents who are pregnant experience higher levels of depressive symptoms than nonpregnant peers and pregnant adults. Clinicians caring for youth are often the first point of clinical contact for pregnant adolescents but report low confidence in assessing and treating reproductive health concerns. In the current review, we outline risk factors for depressive symptoms among pregnant adolescents and provide guidance on best practices in assessment and treatment of depressive symptoms in this pediatric sub-population.

RECENT FINDINGS

Depressive symptoms are persistent across pregnancy. In adolescents, they are linked to greater risk of suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, and nonsuicidal self-injury. Risk factors for prenatal depressive symptoms among adolescents include lower levels of income, history of depression, exposure to childhood maltreatment and/or recent abuse, and/or lifetime exposure to racial/ethnic discrimination. These risk factors likely interact with each other.

SUMMARY

Clinicians should assess carefully for depressive symptoms in all pregnant adolescents using a standardized, validated measure supplemented by thoughtful clinical interviewing. Clinicians can educate adolescents on the distinction between symptoms of pregnancy versus symptoms of depression. We encourage clinicians to increase their comfort in providing psychopharmacological treatment, consulting with colleagues in psychiatry, and referring adolescents for psychopharmacological treatment and therapy as needed.

Is teenage parenthood associated with early use of disability pension? Evidence from a longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Over the past decades the number of young people using disability pensions (DP) has gradually increased in Europe but the reasons for this change are poorly understood. We hypothesize that teenage parenthood could be associated with an increased risk of receiving early DP. The aim of this study was to examine the association between having a first child at age 13-19 and receiving DP at age 20-42 (here called early DP).

METHODS

A longitudinal cohort study was undertaken based on national register data obtained from 410,172 individuals born in Sweden in 1968, 1969, and 1970. Teenage mothers and fathers were followed until age 42 and compared to non-teenage parent counterparts to examine their early receipt of DP. Descriptive analysis, Kaplan-Meier curves, and Cox regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The proportion of teenage parents was more than twice higher in the group that received early DP (16%) compared to the group that did not receive early DP (6%) during the study duration. A higher proportion of teenage mothers and fathers started to receive DP at 20-42 years old compared to non-teenage parents, and the difference between the two groups increased during the observation period. A strong association was observed between being a teenage parent and receiving early DP, significant both independently and after adjusting for the year of birth and the father's level of education. From the age of 30 to 42 years, teenage mothers used early DP more often than teenage fathers or non-teenage parents, and this difference also increased during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

A strong association was found between teenage parenthood and the use of DP between 20 and 42 years of age. Teenage mothers used DP more than teenage fathers and non-teenage parents.

Mental health and psychosocial interventions integrating sexual and reproductive rights and health, and HIV care and prevention for adolescents and young people (10-24 years) in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic scoping review

Background

Interventions targeting combined sexual and reproductive health, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) management and mental health care in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are few. There is a need to address common determinants of poor mental, psychosocial and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) through multimodal and multipronged interventions for adolescents. The main objective of this study was to identify whether and how interventions targeting adolescent SRHR and HIV with a focus on pregnant and parenting adolescents in SSA include mental health components and how these components and their outcomes have been reported in the literature.

Methods

We carried out a two process scoping review approach between 01.04.2021 and 23.08.2022. In the first stage, we searched the PubMed database to identify studies focusing on adolescents and young people aged 10 to 24 from 2001 to 2021. We identified studies focusing on HIV and SRHR that had mental health and psychosocial aspects to the interventions. Our search yielded 7025 studies. Of these 38 were eligible based on our screening criteria that covered interventions, and on further scrutiny, using PracticeWise, an established coding system, we identified select problems and practices to provide a more granular assessment of how interventions developed for this context mapped on to specific problems. At this second stage process, we selected 27 studies for inclusion as actual interventional designs for further systematic scoping of their findings and we used the Joanna Briggs Quality Appraisal checklist to rate these studies. This review was registered within the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), number CRD42021234627.

Findings

Our first set of findings is that when coding problems and solutions, mental health concerns were the least common category of problems targeted in these SRHR/HIV interventions; nevertheless, psychoeducation and cognitive behavioral strategies such as improved communication, assertiveness training, and informational support were offered widely. Of the 27 interventional studies included in the final review, 17 RCTs, 7 open trials, and 3 mixed designs, represented nine countries of the 46 countries in SSA. Intervention types included peer, community, family, digital, and mixed modality interventions. Eight interventions focused on caregivers and youth. Social or community ecology associated problems (being an orphan, sexual abuse, homelessness, negative cultural norms) were the most common risk factors and were more frequent than medical issues associated with HIV exposure. Our findings highlight the relevance and centrality of social issues related to adolescent mental and physical health along with the need to strengthen multimodal interventions along the lines of problems we have identified in our review.

Interpretation

Combined interventions jointly addressing adolescent SRHR, HIV, and mental health have been relatively understudied, despite evidence that adverse social and community factors are rampant in this population.

Funding

MK was funded by Fogarty International CenterK43 TW010716-05 and lead the initiative.

A Realist-Informed Review of Digital Empowerment Strategies for Adolescents to Improve Their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Well-being

The use of digital technologies for health has been rapidly gaining ground in the last decade, including as a strategy to empower adolescents living in urban resource-constrained settings. Nevertheless, unclarity and incoherence remain regarding which programme strategies generate which outcomes, as well as regarding the importance of context. We set out to answer the question "How do digital empowerment strategies work to improve adolescent health and well-being?". We conducted a realist-informed review, the first on this subject matter to our knowledge. The realist methodology is geared towards the understanding of socially complex interventions, such as digital empowerment. We synthesized the data into a programme theory uncovering social mechanisms and context conditions underlying specific programme strategies. We found that digital technologies enlarge the space for adolescents to access information to health services on their own terms and provide anonymity, which leads to a sense of safety if access is not curbed by gatekeepers. If adolescents have access to information adapted to their needs, they will be able to make informed decisions, and this will contribute to improved health outcomes because their better understanding enlarges their sense of individual agency. We identified two main gaps in the literature on digital interventions for adolescents. Both are related to an under-theoretisation of the concepts the programmes rely on in implementation: (1) the urban environment the programme has to operate in and its meaning for the adolescents; (2) the socio-developmental stage of the adolescents the programmes work in.

Adolescent perinatal mental health in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of qualitative and quantitative evidence

Despite the contribution of mental ill-health to perinatal morbidity and mortality, the experiences of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in low- and middle-income countries remain overlooked. This review explores potential intersecting vulnerabilities for perinatal mental health to identify the prevalence, risk factors, interventions, and implications for health services and future research. We searched mixed-methods English-language studies in four databases (MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Global Health, Embase) published between January 1, 2000 and April 30, 2022 reporting age-disaggregated data on the prevalence, risk factors, and interventions for AGYW's mental health during pregnancy through one year postpartum (quantitative) and/or the mental health experiences of AGYW in the perinatal period (qualitative). Our search yielded 3205 results, of which 48 met the inclusion criteria. Both regions observe a paucity of robust evidence and intervention evaluations, particularly South Asia. While meta-analysis was infeasible due to study heterogeneity, quantitative studies do identify individual-level risk factors for perinatal depression. Qualitative studies emphasise stigma's impact, among other societal-level social risk factors, on diverse perinatal mental health outcomes of importance to AGYW themselves. Rigorous evaluations of interventions are lacking bar two protocols with forthcoming results. Evidence gaps persist concerning prevalence of outcomes beyond depression and implications of AGYW's perinatal experiences including pregnancy/perinatal loss and obstetric and postpartum complications. High-quality research, including comparable prevalence and multi-method evidence identifying risk and protective factors and promising interventions is urgently needed to improve adolescent wellbeing in the perinatal period. A key strength of this review is our assessment of available evidence for both regions. In doing so, we address a critical blind spot of prior reviews that focused either on adult perinatal mental health in low- and middle-income countries, or on AGYW perinatal mental health in high-income settings but neglected the intersection of these potential vulnerabilities for these high-burden, low-resource contexts.

The Role of Emotion Regulation in Eating Disorders: A Network Meta-Analysis Approach

Background

Previous theoretical models and reviews have documented a strong connection between emotion dysregulation eating disorder (ED) psychopathology among the general and clinical populations. The aim of this review was to build on this previous work by conducting a network meta-analysis to explore associations between adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and ED psychopathology trans-diagnostically across the ED spectrum to identify areas of emotion dysregulation that have the strongest association with symptomatology.

Methodology

A total of 104 studies were included in the meta-analysis and correlation coefficient representing the associations between specific emotion regulation strategies and ED symptomatology were extracted. We ran a Bayesian random effects network meta-analysis and the initial network was well-connected with each emotion regulation strategy being linked to at least one other strategy. We also conducted a network meta-regression to explore whether between-study differences in body mass index (BMI), age, and whether the sample consisted of solely female participants explained any possible network inconsistency.

Results

The network meta-analysis revealed that ruminations and non-acceptance of emotions were most closely associated with ED psychopathology. There was no significant network inconsistency but two comparisons approached significance and thus meta-regressions were conducted. The meta-regressions revealed a significant effect of BMI such that the associations between different emotion regulation strategies and ED symptomatology were weaker among those with low BMI.

Discussion

The present findings build on previous work and highlight the role of rumination and difficulties with accepting emotions as key emotion regulation difficulties in EDs. Additionally, the finding that the associations were weaker among ED patients with low BMI may point toward a complex relationship between ED behaviors and emotion regulation. Taken together, our findings call for interventions that target emotion regulation, specifically rumination and difficulties accepting emotions, in the treatment of EDs.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021249996, PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42021249996.