{
  "abstract": "Background Although 90% of the global adolescent population resides in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), cross-national mental health research has primarily focused on high-income countries. This systematic review aims to examine cross-national studies, including LMICs, focusing on adolescent mental health and psychosocial problems.Methods Peer-reviewed articles comparing adolescent mental health or psychosocial issues across countries were included if published in English and based on observational study designs. Six databases were searched from inception to January 2024. Risk of bias was assessed using the JBI tool and additional cross-national quality criteria. A narrative synthesis was conducted following the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis guidelines.Results The search identified 172 studies including data from over 12 million adolescents across 166 countries. The most used international survey was the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, and most studies employed cross-sectional designs with school-based, self-reported questionnaires. Adolescent mental health research involved 166 countries, while 52 countries were not represented in any of the studies. The inclusion of LMICs in cross-national research increased over time. Internalising problems and bullying were well-researched topics, but studies on externalising behaviours were limited. The number of publications increased over time, particularly after 2020. Variations by income level were observed, with traditional bullying more prevalent in LMICs.Discussion This review provides important insights into global patterns and gaps in adolescent mental health research. It highlights the need to address methodological heterogeneity, including the use of validated and culturally adapted measures, comprehensive reporting of sampling procedures, sample sizes, response rates and greater attention to generalisability. In addition, the targeted inclusion of under-represented regions is essential to addressing global disparities and informing effective interventions.PROSPERO registration number CRD42024505077.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Child Psychiatry, Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland",
        "INVEST Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland"
      ],
      "name": "Xiao Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Child Psychiatry, Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland",
        "INVEST Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland"
      ],
      "name": "Yuko Mori"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Child Psychiatry, Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland",
        "INVEST Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland"
      ],
      "name": "Anne Abio"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Child Psychiatry, Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland",
        "INVEST Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland"
      ],
      "name": "Zahra Kafami Khorasani"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Child Psychiatry, Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland",
        "INVEST Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland"
      ],
      "name": "Sonja Gilbert"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "INVEST Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland",
        "Shalvata Mental Health Center, Hod Hasharon, Israel"
      ],
      "name": "Meytal Grimland"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia",
        "Child and Youth Mental Health Centre, Children’s Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia"
      ],
      "name": "Nikita Bezborodovs"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia"
      ],
      "name": "Wan Mohd Azam Wan Mohd Yunus"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Child Psychiatry, Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland",
        "INVEST Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland"
      ],
      "name": "Sanju Silwal"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Child Psychiatry, Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland",
        "INVEST Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland"
      ],
      "name": "Minja Westerlund"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India",
        "Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India"
      ],
      "name": "Samir Kumar Praharaj"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health, Nairobi, Kenya",
        "Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya"
      ],
      "name": "David M Ndetei"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Psychological Support and Research Center for Human Development, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Hitoshi Kaneko"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Child Psychiatry, Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland",
        "INVEST Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland"
      ],
      "name": "Emmi Heinonen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "INVEST Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland",
        "Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland"
      ],
      "name": "Andre Sourander"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Cross-national research on adolescent mental health: a systematic review comparing research in low, middle and high-income countries",
  "uid": "5b50d100-edb9-5d02-bcf9-1edc2f415795"
}