Self-perceived pressure in four social domains among Norwegian adolescents: Temporal trends 2017-24

Abstract Background The perception of high pressure at various social arenas may be important sources of stress that influences well-being. That said, it is unclear how perceived pressure among adolescents has changed over the past decade, and whether this trend is consistent across different subgroups of the population. This study aims to assess temporal trends in self-perceived pressure among Norwegian adolescents across four domains-academic performance, appearance, sports, and social media-and to examine differences by gender and socioeconomic background. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional, population-based data from the nationwide Ungdata survey, collected in three periods: T1 (2017-2019), T2 (2021), and T3 (2022-2024). The sample included lower secondary school students (n = 375,614; 50.5% girls). Age-adjusted prevalence estimates were calculated using logistic regression models, stratified by gender. Results Among girls, the highest prevalence of pressure, increasing from T1 to T3, was observed in the domains of academic performance (T1 = 42%, T3 = 45%) and physical appearance (T1 = 33%, T3 = 39%). For boys, academic performance (T1 = 23%, T3 = 23%) and athletic pressure (T1 = 17%, T3 = 18%) were the domains with the highest prevalence. Girls consistently reported higher levels of pressure across all domains (all comparisons, p < 0.001), with evident socioeconomic disparities. Lower SEP girls reported slightly more pressure related to appearance and school performance compared to higher SEP girls. Conversely, boys and girls from higher SEP backgrounds more frequently reported athletic pressure than their lower SEP peers. Conclusions Self-perceived pressure has slightly risen among Norwegian adolescents over the past decade, especially in relation to academic achievement and appearance. Moreover, the evident gender differences and socioeconomic disparities in various types of pressure are essential for guiding public health efforts. Key messages • Girls consistently reported higher levels of pressure in all domains, and to an increasing extent over the past decade. • Academic pressure was highest overall, especially among lower SEP girls, while higher SEP boys and girls more often reported athletic pressure.