{"id":99341,"date":"2019-05-27T17:02:04","date_gmt":"2019-05-27T15:02:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=99341"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:23:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:23:21","slug":"rivm-causes-of-stress-among-young-people-still-unclear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2019\/05\/27\/rivm-causes-of-stress-among-young-people-still-unclear\/","title":{"rendered":"RIVM: Causes of stress among young people still unclear"},"content":{"rendered":"

More and more young people apparently suffer from stress and burnouts. According to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), however, it is impossible to establish from the available data whether this is actually the case and what the causes are.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Some statistics and experiences\u2019 is the subtitle of the research published on Friday by RIVM together with the Trimbos institute and the Amsterdam University Medical Centre. On behalf of the Ministry of Health, the researchers compared all the existing data about mental health among young people. They did not perform any new research and call their report \u2018a first step\u2019.<\/p>\n

The most important source is Statistics Netherlands (CBS), which reported<\/a>\u00a0last year that the number of young people (aged 12-25) suffering from mental illness had risen \u2018very slightly\u2019 over the course of ten years: from 7 to 8 percent. Within this, CBS claimed that there was also a \u2018very slight\u2019 rise among young people aged between 18 and 25: from 8.8 to 10.9 percent.<\/p>\n

That seems remarkable, in view of the constant flow of worrying\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that students are increasingly suffering from anxiety, stress and depression. Some of the reasons mentioned are the increased pressure to perform<\/a>, the omnipresent social media and the student loan system.<\/p>\n\n\t

Confusing<\/h2>

The RIVM report refers among others to research<\/a>\u00a0by Windesheim in 2018. This claimed that 46 percent of the students at this university of applied sciences do not suffer at all, or only mildly, from anxiety and depression, that 39 percent have light to moderate anxiety and\/or depression and that over 14 percent suffer serious anxiety and\/or depression. However, because the Windesheim study uses different measurement tools, the RIVM is unable to properly compare these percentages with those of CBS.<\/p>\n

When gathering statistics about mental health, the researchers also encountered differing uses of terms. This makes it confusing when interpreting research results and in the public debate.<\/p>\n

According to some sources, three quarters of young people are suffering from \u2018burnout symptoms\u2019, while this is less than ten percent in other sources. Even the result of the same survey can be presented as \u2018psychological instability\u2019 in one case and as \u2018emotional problems\u2019, \u2018emotional symptoms\u2019 or as \u2018burnout symptoms\u2019 elsewhere.<\/p>\n

That makes it confusing, say the researchers. They therefore appeal for the use of the same measurement tools and for a clear conceptual framework.<\/p>\n

Pressure to perform<\/h2>

Together with the Amsterdam UMC, RIVM conducted seven group conversations with a total of 41 young people: 2 boys and 39 girls. Many of them wanted to conform to \u2018the perfect image\u2019 as presented on social media and became less confident as a result. Clearly, the increased pressure to perform only partly explains stress among young people. The detailed results of the group conversations will be published later this year.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t just look at the inner world, the researchers warn. In agreement, they refer to an\u00a0essay<\/a>\u00a0by the Council for Public Health and Society (RVS), which feels that there is too little attention for the social causes of mental health problems.<\/p>\n

RIVM concludes that there are still gaps in the analysis. The national monitor for student welfare, which is being set up at the urging<\/a>\u00a0of the House of Representatives, may instigate changes in this. Solutions can then be sought.<\/p>\n

Missed opportunity<\/h2>

Student organisation ISO is extremely disappointed<\/a>\u00a0with the report and calls it \u2018far from a comprehensive study into the causes of mental health problems among students\u2019. President Tom van den Brink talks about \u2018a missed opportunity for everyone\u2019 and refers to all the previous research. \u201cStudent welfare is under pressure and that is exacerbated by financial concerns,\u201d is his firm belief.<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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