Global Burden of Mental Disorders Among Female Children and Adolescents Compared with Males: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990 to 2021
7 affiliations
- 1Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- 2Department of Medical Education, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- 3Shanghai Weifang Community Health Service Center, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- 4Shanghai Baoshan Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- 5School of Marxism, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- 6School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- 7School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
Abstract
Background: This study describes the global burden of mental disorders among female children and adolescents, with particular attention to temporal trends, regional patterns, and attributable risk factors from 1990 to 2021.
Methods: Using Global Burden of Disease 2021 data, we analyzed age-standardized DALY rates, prevalence, and incidence among children and adolescents aged 0–19 across 204 countries. Estimates for males were included as a comparator to contextualize the burden among females.
Results: The prevalence of mental disorders among children and adolescents increased modestly overall from 1990 to 2021, with a more pronounced increase between 2020 and 2021. In 2021, males had higher overall age-standardized prevalence, while females had higher age-standardized DALY rates per 100,000 population, at 1073.64 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1073.08 to 1074.20) compared with 1027.13 (95% CI 1026.60 to 1027.67) in males. Females bear a more significant burden of emotional disorders, and males are more affected by behavioral and developmental disorders. Neurodevelopmental disorders predominated at ages 0 to 4, depression and anxiety were more prominent in older children and adolescents. Among females in high SDI countries, the age-standardized DALY rate reached 1579.02 per 100,000 people (95% CI 1576.8–1581.26). GBD estimates indicated higher proportions of DALYs attributable to behavioral risks and childhood sexual abuse in high SDI countries, while proportions attributable to lead exposure and environmental risks were higher in low and low-middle SDI countries.
Conclusion: Mental disorders impose a substantial burden on female children and adolescents worldwide, with the higher DALY burden relative to males particularly evident during adolescence. These findings may inform prevention priorities and public health strategies tailored to females across age groups and socioeconomic contexts.
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BibTeX
@article{yang2026global,
title = {{Global Burden of Mental Disorders Among Female Children and Adolescents Compared with Males: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990 to 2021}},
author = {Yuqi Yang and Jie Cheng and Qian Huang and Jiewen Xiao and Xiangyang Yan and Hong Liang and Jiaoling Huang},
journal = {International Journal of Women's Health},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.2147/ijwh.s644892},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2147/ijwh.s644892},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Global Burden of Mental Disorders Among Female Children and Adolescents Compared with Males: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990 to 2021
AU - Yuqi Yang
AU - Jie Cheng
AU - Qian Huang
AU - Jiewen Xiao
AU - Xiangyang Yan
AU - Hong Liang
AU - Jiaoling Huang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/01
JO - International Journal of Women's Health
DO - 10.2147/ijwh.s644892
UR - https://doi.org/10.2147/ijwh.s644892
AB - Background: This study describes the global burden of mental disorders among female children and adolescents, with particular attention to temporal trends, regional patterns, and attributable risk factors from 1990 to 2021. Methods: Using Global Burden of Disease 2021 data, we analyzed age-standardized DALY rates, prevalence, and incidence among children and adolescents aged 0–19 across 204 countries. Estimates for males were included as a comparator to contextualize the burden among females. Results: The prevalence of mental disorders among children and adolescents increased modestly overall from 1990 to 2021, with a more pronounced increase between 2020 and 2021. In 2021, males had higher overall age-standardized prevalence, while females had higher age-standardized DALY rates per 100,000 population, at 1073.64 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1073.08 to 1074.20) compared with 1027.13 (95% CI 1026.60 to 1027.67) in males. Females bear a more significant burden of emotional disorders, and males are more affected by behavioral and developmental disorders. Neurodevelopmental disorders predominated at ages 0 to 4, depression and anxiety were more prominent in older children and adolescents. Among females in high SDI countries, the age-standardized DALY rate reached 1579.02 per 100,000 people (95% CI 1576.8–1581.26). GBD estimates indicated higher proportions of DALYs attributable to behavioral risks and childhood sexual abuse in high SDI countries, while proportions attributable to lead exposure and environmental risks were higher in low and low-middle SDI countries. Conclusion: Mental disorders impose a substantial burden on female children and adolescents worldwide, with the higher DALY burden relative to males particularly evident during adolescence. These findings may inform prevention priorities and public health strategies tailored to females across age groups and socioeconomic contexts.
SN - 1179-1411
ER -