title: Mental Health Difficulties in Early Adolescence: A Comparison of Two Cross-Sectional Studies in England From 2009 to 2014.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the changes in mental health difficulties in early adolescence between 2009 and 2014 in England.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis reports on data from two cross-sectional samples of adolescents (aged 11-13 years) collected 5 years apart in 2009 and 2014 in secondary schools across England. Samples were matched using propensity scoring, resulting in a total pooled sample of 3,366 adolescents. Mental health difficulties were reported by participants using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, there were similar levels of mental health difficulties experienced by adolescents in 2009 and 2014. Notable exceptions were a significant increase in emotional problems in girls and a decrease in total difficulties in boys in 2014 compared to 2009.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased prevalence of emotional problems in girls mirrors a trend found in other similar studies, and the results are discussed in the context of recent economic and societal changes. The small decrease in total difficulties in boys, although promising, clearly warrants further research.
authors.affiliation: Evidence Based Practice Unit, University College London and the Anna Freud Centre, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: e.fink@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Elian
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.affiliation: Evidence Based Practice Unit, University College London and the Anna Freud Centre, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Praveetha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patalay
authors.affiliation: Evidence Based Practice Unit, University College London and the Anna Freud Centre, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.affiliation: Evidence Based Practice Unit, University College London and the Anna Freud Centre, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holley
authors.affiliation: Evidence Based Practice Unit, University College London and the Anna Freud Centre, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deighton
authors.affiliation: Evidence Based Practice Unit, University College London and the Anna Freud Centre, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolpert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008603:Mental Health; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adolescent mental health; Behavioral problems; Emotional problems; SDQ