Little is known about risk factors for mental health and persistent pain in adolescents and young adults and there is a lack of treatment guidelines. In this project, we are aiming to increase this knowledge by conducting systematic reviews of the literature, analysing population-based and registry data, collect own data in a cohort of young adults (16 - 26 years of age), and developing interventions for adolescents and young adults with mental and musculoskeletal disorders.

 

The transitional phase from childhood, via adolescence to young adulthood is a critical period of life for future health and quality of life. Getting independent from parents; making important choices about lifestyle and health-related behaviours may influence future health. Despite a high prevalence of mental health disorders and musculoskeletal pain among young people, very little research exists on this life stage with respect to mental and musculoskeletal health.

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The objectives of The HEYoung project are to identify risk factors, risk profiles, and risk trajectories for mental and musculoskeletal disorders in adolescents and young adults, and on the basis of this knowledge, develop intervention studies that will be tested in feasibility and pilot studies, and full scale randomized controlled trials.

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​Publications

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Risk factors for non-specific neck pain in young adults. A systematic review

Henriette Jahre 1, Margreth Grotle 2 3, Kaja Smedbråten 2, Kate M Dunn 4, Britt Elin Øiestad 2. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2020 Jun 9;21(1):366. doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-03379-y. 

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Risk factors for episodes of back pain in emerging adults. A systematic review

https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.1474

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Risk factors for non-specific neck pain in young adults: a systematic review

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-03379-y

 

Neck and shoulder pain in adolescents seldom occur alone: Results from the Norwegian Ungdata Survey.

Jahre H, Grotle M, Smedbråten K, Richardsen KR, Bakken A, Øiestad BE.Eur J Pain. 2021 Sep;25(8):1751-1759. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1785. Epub 2021 May 11.PMID: 33909331

 

Risk factors and risk profiles for neck pain in young adults: Prospective analyses from adolescence to young adulthood-The North-Trøndelag Health Study.

Jahre H, Grotle M, Småstuen M, Guddal MH, Smedbråten K, Richardsen KR, Stensland S, Storheim K, Øiestad BE.PLoS One. 2021 Aug 12;16(8):e0256006. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256006. eCollection 2021.PMID: 34383846

 

Low social acceptance among peers increases the risk of persistent musculoskeletal pain in adolescents. Prospective data from the Fit Futures Study.

Jahre H, Grotle M, Smedbråten K, Richardsen KR, Côté P, Steingrímsdóttir ÓA, Nielsen C, Storheim K, Småstuen M, Stensland SØ, Øiestad BE.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022 Jan 13;23(1):44. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-04995-6.PMID: 35027018

 

Lifestyle behaviour in adolescence and musculoskeletal pain 11 years later: The Trøndelag Health Study.

Smedbråten K, Grotle M, Jahre H, Richardsen KR, Småstuen MC, Skillgate E, Øiestad BE.Eur J Pain. 2022 Oct;26(9):1910-1922. doi: 10.1002/ejp.2012. Epub 2022 Aug 26.PMID: 35851511

 

Accumulation of health complaints is associated with persistent musculoskeletal pain two years later in adolescents: The Fit Futures study.

Smedbråten K, Grotle M, Jahre H, Richardsen KR, Côté P, Steingrímsdóttir ÓA, Storheim K, Nielsen CS, Øiestad BE.PLoS One. 2022 Dec 29;17(12):e0278906. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278906. eCollection 2022.PMID: 36580469 Free PMC article.