Franziska Reiss

Bio: Franziska Reiss is an academic researcher from University of Hamburg. The author has contributed to research in topics: Mental health & Socioeconomic status. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 5 publications receiving 992 citations.

Socioeconomic status, stressful life situations and mental health problems in children and adolescents: Results of the German BELLA cohort-study.

Abstract: Aim Children and adolescents with low socioeconomic status (SES) suffer from mental health problems more often than their peers with high SES. The aim of the current study was to investigate the direct and interactive association between commonly used indicators of SES and the exposure to stressful life situations in relation to children’s mental health problems. Methods The prospective BELLA cohort study is the mental health module of the representative, population-based German National Health Interview and Examination Survey for children and adolescents (KiGGS). Sample data include 2,111 participants (aged 7–17 years at baseline) from the first three measurement points (2003–2006, 2004–2007 and 2005–2008). Hierarchical multiple linear regression models were conducted to analyze associations among the SES indicators household income, parental education and parental unemployment (assessed at baseline), number of stressful life situations (e.g., parental accident, mental illness or severe financial crises; 1- and 2-year follow-ups) and parent-reported mental health problems (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire; 2-year follow-up). Results All indicators of SES separately predicted mental health problems in children and adolescents at the 2-year follow-up. Stressful life situations (between baseline and 2-year follow-up) and the interaction of parental education and the number of stressful life situations remained significant in predicting children’s mental health problems after adjustment for control variables. Thereby, children with higher educated parents showed fewer mental health problems in a stressful life situation. No moderating effect was found for household income and parental employment. Overall, the detected effect sizes were small. Mental health problems at baseline were the best predictor for mental health problems two years later. Conclusions Children and adolescents with a low SES suffer from multiple stressful life situations and are exposed to a higher risk of developing mental health problems. The findings suggest that the reduction of socioeconomic inequalities and interventions for families with low parental education might help to reduce children’s mental health problems.

Mental health and well-being from childhood to adulthood: design, methods and results of the 11-year follow-up of the BELLA study

Abstract: Mental health and well-being are of great interest in health policy and research. Longitudinal surveys are needed to provide solid population-based data. We describe the design and methods of an 11-year follow-up of the German BELLA study in children, adolescents and young adults, and we report on age- and gender-specific courses of general health and well-being, long-term health-related outcomes of mental health problems, and mental health care use. The BELLA study is the module on mental health and well-being within the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS). Standardised measures were used at each of the five measurement points of the BELLA study. In the 11-year follow-up, young people aged 7–31 years participated (n = 3492). Individual growth modelling, linear regression and descriptive analyses were conducted. Self-reported general health and well-being were both better in younger (vs. older) and in male (vs. female) participants according to the data from all five measurement points. Mental health problems in childhood and adolescence (measured at baseline) predicted impaired health outcomes at 6-year and 11-year follow-ups. Approximately one out of four children with a diagnosed mental disorder was not undergoing mental health treatment. With its 11-year follow-up, the prospective longitudinal BELLA study provides new and solid data on mental health and well-being from childhood to adulthood in Germany, and these data are important for health promotion and prevention practices. These results are consistent with previous findings. Promising future analyses are planned.

Psychische Auffälligkeiten von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland

Abstract: Psychische Auffalligkeiten im Kindes- und Jugendalter sind haufig und gelten als eine der grosen Herausforderungen in der Kindergesundheit. Die „Befragung zum seelischen Wohlbefinden und Verhalten“ (BELLA) wird seit 2003 als Modul des Kinder- und Jugendgesundheitssurvey (KiGGS) des Robert Koch-Instituts zur Erfassung der psychischen Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland durchgefuhrt. In diesem Beitrag werden Zahlen aus der 3. Welle der Studie vorgestellt (2009–2012), die an 2814 Kindern und Jugendlichen im Alter von 3 bis 17 Jahren erhoben wurden. Insgesamt zeigten 17,2 % der Kinder und Jugendlichen diagnostisch oder klinisch bedeutsame Hinweise auf psychische Auffalligkeiten. Diese Auffalligkeiten haben ein hohes Risiko zu chronifizieren. Nur 21,6 % der Kinder und Jugendlichen mit psychischen Auffalligkeiten waren in den letzten 12 Monaten wenigstens einmal in Kontakt mit Fachversorgern, wie Psychiatern, Psychologen oder Psychotherapeuten. Ein niedriger soziookonomischer Status sowie psychische Belastungen der Eltern zeigten sich als Risikofaktoren fur die psychische Gesundheit der Kinder, wahrend ein positives Familienklima und soziale Unterstutzung sich als wichtige Ressourcen erwiesen. Durch praventive Programme sollten Risikofaktoren gemindert und Ressourcen gestarkt werden, um der Entwicklung von psychischen Auffalligkeiten vorzubeugen. Im Beitrag werden daruber hinaus ein Kita-Praventionsprogramm und Fruherkennungsdienste fur psychische Auffalligkeiten beschrieben. Die individuellen Beeintrachtigungen und gesellschaftlichen Kosten, die durch psychische Auffalligkeiten verursacht werden, sind enorm. Daher sind alle Akteure aufgerufen, sich nachhaltig dafur einzusetzen, die psychische Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen zu schutzen und zu fordern.

Gender differences in depression in representative national samples: Meta-analyses of diagnoses and symptoms.

Abstract: In 2 meta-analyses on gender differences in depression in nationally representative samples, we advance previous work by including studies of depression diagnoses and symptoms to (a) estimate the magnitude of the gender difference in depression across a wide array of nations and ages; (b) use a developmental perspective to elucidate patterns of gender differences across the life span; and (c) incorporate additional theory-driven moderators (e.g., gender equity). For major depression diagnoses and depression symptoms, respectively, we meta-analyzed data from 65 and 95 articles and their corresponding national data sets, representing data from 1,716,195 and 1,922,064 people in over 90 different nations. Overall, odds ratio (OR) = 1.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.88, 2.03], and d = 0.27 [0.26, 0.29]. Age was the strongest predictor of effect size. The gender difference for diagnoses emerged earlier than previously thought, with OR = 2.37 at age 12. For both meta-analyses, the gender difference peaked in adolescence (OR = 3.02 for ages 13-15, and d = 0.47 for age 16) but then declined and remained stable in adulthood. Cross-national analyses indicated that larger gender differences were found in nations with greater gender equity, for major depression, but not depression symptoms. The gender difference in depression represents a health disparity, especially in adolescence, yet the magnitude of the difference indicates that depression in men should not be overlooked. (PsycINFO Database Record

Child and adolescent mental health worldwide: evidence for action

Abstract: This article suggests that while mental health problems affect 10—20% of children and adolescents worldwide, the mental health needs of children and adolescents are neglected, especially in low-income and middle-income countries. The authors review the evidence and the gaps in the published work in terms of prevalence, risk and protective factors, and interventions to prevent and treat childhood and adolescent mental health problems.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on quality of life and mental health in children and adolescents in Germany.

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented changes in the lives of 1.6 billion children and adolescents. First non-representative studies from China, India, Brazil, the US, Spain, Italy, and Germany pointed to a negative mental health impact. The current study is the first nationwide representative study to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health of children and adolescents in Germany from the perspective of children themselves. A representative online survey was conducted among n = 1586 families with 7- to 17-year-old children and adolescents between May 26 and June 10. The survey included internationally established and validated instruments for measuring HRQoL (KIDSCREEN-10), mental health problems (SDQ), anxiety (SCARED), and depression (CES-DC). Results were compared with data from the nationwide, longitudinal, representative BELLA cohort study (n = 1556) conducted in Germany before the pandemic. Two-thirds of the children and adolescents reported being highly burdened by the COVID-19 pandemic. They experienced significantly lower HRQoL (40.2% vs. 15.3%), more mental health problems (17.8% vs. 9.9%) and higher anxiety levels (24.1% vs. 14.9%) than before the pandemic. Children with low socioeconomic status, migration background and limited living space were affected significantly more. Health promotion and prevention strategies need to be implemented to maintain children's and adolescents' mental health, improve their HRQoL, and mitigate the burden caused by COVID-19, particularly for children who are most at risk.