Gender specific mental health among adolescents in Northern Italy: a cross-sectional study.

Approximately 11% of adolescent participants screened positively for depression and 28% for anxiety in 2025.

• A total of 1,471 questionnaires were evaluated in 2025.
• Nearly 11% of participants screened positively for depression.
• 28% of participants screened positively for anxiety.
• Standardized instruments were used to assess anxiety, depression, and general mental disorders.
• Participants were 11-19 years aged students in South Tyrol, North Italy.

Anxiety prevalence remained stable across all four survey years while depression showed a decreasing trend from 2021 to 2025.

• The study used a repeated cross-sectional design with four time points between 2021 and 2025.
• Percentages were the same in all 4 years for anxiety.
• A decreasing trend was found for depression across the four survey years.
• The study did not follow the same participants across all four surveys.

Females had significantly higher rates of positive mental health screening than males in 2025.

• About 40% of females in 2025 screened positively for at least one mental health problem.
• About 27% of males in 2025 screened positively for at least one mental health problem.
• The difference between genders was statistically significant.
• The study was representative for age and gender.

Comorbidity of mental health problems was more prevalent among females than males.

• About 45% of positively screened females were screened positively by more than one instrument.
• The percentage of positive screens on more than one instrument was 35% for males.
• This suggests higher rates of co-occurring anxiety, depression, or general mental disorders among females.

School stress, crises-related stress, and problematic Internet use were the most important non-gender-dependent associated factors for adolescent mental health problems.

• These three factors were identified as the most important predictors regardless of gender.
• Crises-related stress was specifically noted as a relevant factor in the post-pandemic context.
• Less sleep and less physical activity were also identified as significant associated factors.
• The study period spanned 2021 to 2025, capturing post-pandemic and ongoing global crises contexts.

Low or medium health literacy and single parenthood were predictors of mental health problems specifically among girls.

• Low/medium health literacy was identified as a gender-specific predictor for girls.
• Single parenthood was identified as a gender-specific predictor for girls.
• These factors were not listed as significant non-gender-dependent predictors for the overall sample.
• The authors recommend health literacy programs as part of preventive strategies in educational settings.