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Självrapporterad exekutiv funktion och psykisk ohälsa hos ungdomar: Samband mellan exekutiv funktion, varierande nivåer av internaliserade symtom och frekvens av icke-suicidalt självskadebeteende i en icke-klinisk population

Ahlström, Emma LU and Ek, Lovisa LU (2025) PSPR14 20251
Department of Psychology
Abstract (Swedish)
Exekutiv funktion är en sammansättning av flera förmågor som är avgörande för ungas möjlighet att hantera krav i skolan och samhället. Studier tyder på att det finns ett samband mellan exekutiv funktion och psykisk ohälsa, däribland ångest, depression och icke-suicidalt självskadebeteende. Tidigare forskning har främst studerat exekutiv funktion utifrån psykologiska test samt undersökt ungdomar med neuropsykiatrisk funktionsnedsättning. Denna studie ämnar därför undersöka om det finns ett samband mellan självskattad exekutiv funktion mätt med Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function – Second Edition (BRIEF-2), och ungdomars självrapporterade symtom på ångest och depression samt icke-suicidalt självskadebeteende, i en icke-klinisk... (More)
Exekutiv funktion är en sammansättning av flera förmågor som är avgörande för ungas möjlighet att hantera krav i skolan och samhället. Studier tyder på att det finns ett samband mellan exekutiv funktion och psykisk ohälsa, däribland ångest, depression och icke-suicidalt självskadebeteende. Tidigare forskning har främst studerat exekutiv funktion utifrån psykologiska test samt undersökt ungdomar med neuropsykiatrisk funktionsnedsättning. Denna studie ämnar därför undersöka om det finns ett samband mellan självskattad exekutiv funktion mätt med Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function – Second Edition (BRIEF-2), och ungdomars självrapporterade symtom på ångest och depression samt icke-suicidalt självskadebeteende, i en icke-klinisk population. Därtill syftar studien till att undersöka om det föreligger könsskillnader avseende rapportering av exekutiv funktion. Studien genomfördes inom forskningsprojektet Självkänsla och Livssituation (SoL) vid Lunds Universitet, varifrån datan hämtades. Aktuell data bestod av enkäter insamlade år 2023, besvarade av elever i årskurs 9 (N = 390; 49% pojkar, 47,4% flickor, 3,6% annat/vill ej ange, Medelålder 15 år) från en kommun i södra Sverige. Resultaten visade att tonåringar som rapporterade ångest och depression på klinisk symtomnivå samt ungdomar med repetitivt icke-suicidalt självskadebeteende upplevde störst exekutiva svårigheter. Effektstorlekar var medelstora till stora. Könsskillnader framkom avseende skattning av exekutiv funktion, dessa var emellertid generellt små. Sammantaget tyder studien på att förekomst och frekvens av olika typer av psykisk ohälsa har varierande betydelse för ungdomens upplevda exekutiva funktioner. Resultaten understryker vikten av vidare forskning för att fördjupa förståelsen för ungdomarnas upplevda svårigheter med målet att öka medvetenheten inom skola, vård och övriga samhällsinstanser. (Less)
Abstract
Executive function refers to a set of skills important for adolescents’ ability to handle school and societal demands. Research has shown associations between executive function and mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and non-suicidal self-injury. However, prior studies have mainly investigated executive function through psychological testing and focused on individuals with concurrent neurodevelopmental disorders. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between self-rated executive function, measured with Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function – Second Edition (BRIEF-2), and self-reported symptoms of anxiety, depression and non-suicidal self-injury, among adolescents in a non-clinical population.... (More)
Executive function refers to a set of skills important for adolescents’ ability to handle school and societal demands. Research has shown associations between executive function and mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and non-suicidal self-injury. However, prior studies have mainly investigated executive function through psychological testing and focused on individuals with concurrent neurodevelopmental disorders. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between self-rated executive function, measured with Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function – Second Edition (BRIEF-2), and self-reported symptoms of anxiety, depression and non-suicidal self-injury, among adolescents in a non-clinical population. A secondary aim was to examine potential gender differences regarding self-reported executive function. The study was conducted within the research project Självkänsla och Livssituation (SoL) at Lund University. Data were collected in 2023 through questionnaires completed by students (N = 390; 49% boys, 47.4% girls, 3.6% other, M = 15 years) from a municipality in southern Sweden. The result indicated that adolescents reporting clinical-level symptoms of anxiety and depression, and those engaging in repetitive non-suicidal self-injury experienced the greatest executive functioning difficulties. Effect sizes ranged from medium to large. Gender differences in self-reported executive functioning were minimal, with small effect sizes suggesting limited practical significance. Overall, the results suggest that both presence and frequency of various mental health challenges play a significant role in adolescents’ perceived executive function. The results emphasize the need for further research to deepen the understanding of adolescents’ cognitive and emotional experiences, aiming to promote greater awareness and support within schools, healthcare and society. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Ahlström, Emma LU and Ek, Lovisa LU
supervisor
organization
course
PSPR14 20251
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
exekutiv funktion, ångest, depression, icke-suicidalt självskadebeteende, tonåren, executive function, anxiety, non-suicidal self-injury, adolescence
language
Swedish
id
9188846
date added to LUP
2025-05-26 08:16:24
date last changed
2025-05-26 08:16:24
@misc{9188846,
  abstract     = {{Executive function refers to a set of skills important for adolescents’ ability to handle school and societal demands. Research has shown associations between executive function and mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and non-suicidal self-injury. However, prior studies have mainly investigated executive function through psychological testing and focused on individuals with concurrent neurodevelopmental disorders. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between self-rated executive function, measured with Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function – Second Edition (BRIEF-2), and self-reported symptoms of anxiety, depression and non-suicidal self-injury, among adolescents in a non-clinical population. A secondary aim was to examine potential gender differences regarding self-reported executive function. The study was conducted within the research project Självkänsla och Livssituation (SoL) at Lund University. Data were collected in 2023 through questionnaires completed by students (N = 390; 49% boys, 47.4% girls, 3.6% other, M = 15 years) from a municipality in southern Sweden. The result indicated that adolescents reporting clinical-level symptoms of anxiety and depression, and those engaging in repetitive non-suicidal self-injury experienced the greatest executive functioning difficulties. Effect sizes ranged from medium to large. Gender differences in self-reported executive functioning were minimal, with small effect sizes suggesting limited practical significance. Overall, the results suggest that both presence and frequency of various mental health challenges play a significant role in adolescents’ perceived executive function. The results emphasize the need for further research to deepen the understanding of adolescents’ cognitive and emotional experiences, aiming to promote greater awareness and support within schools, healthcare and society.}},
  author       = {{Ahlström, Emma and Ek, Lovisa}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Självrapporterad exekutiv funktion och psykisk ohälsa hos ungdomar: Samband mellan exekutiv funktion, varierande nivåer av internaliserade symtom och frekvens av icke-suicidalt självskadebeteende i en icke-klinisk population}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}