Page 35 - IJPS-11-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Stress in early adulthood

the imputations, while standard errors were computed to Danish legislation, written informed consent or approval
using Rubin’s rule, a formula that accounts for multiple from ethics or scientific committees is not required for
imputations (results not shown) (Ruben, 1987). The questionnaire- and register-based studies (NVK, 2021).
dichotomization of scales was performed after multiple
imputations of missing values. 3. Results

A correlation analysis between the two measures of Table 1 displays the distribution of exposure variables
young adult stress (work stress and perceived stress) at in relation to perceived stress and work stress at age 28.
age 28 revealed a correlation of r = 0.32. In addition, a Among those who reported feeling stressed between
correlation analysis between all exposure variables showed the ages of 15 and 21, the percentage reporting high
the strongest correlation between the stress measures at ages perceived stress at age 28 increased from 34% to 44%
15, 18, and 21, with correlations of r = 0.33 and r = 0.38. All with increasing age, compared to percentages between
the other correlations were below 0.3. All correlations were 18% and 22% among those who had not previously felt
performed before dichotomization. Descriptive statistics stressed. A similar tendency was observed for work
in relation to the two outcome measures were presented for stress, where 23% to 26% of those who experienced stress
all exposures and covariates as the number and percentile during adolescence reported high work stress compared
distribution of the scales. Multiple logistic regression to between 15% and 16% of those who did not experience
analyses were computed to study the associations between stress during adolescence. Considering the accumulative
perceived stress at ages 15, 18, and 21 and perceived stress stress measure, individuals who reported stress at ≥2 time
or work stress at age 28. The selection of covariates included points during adolescence experienced higher proportions
in the analyses was based on a priori considerations and of high perceived stress and work stress at age 28, compared
informed by a literature review. The associations between to those who had not reported feeling stressed during
adolescent stress and young adult stress were analyzed adolescence (46% vs. 13% and 27% vs. 13%). A lower
by two different models. First, the crude associations proportion of the temporary employed experienced work
between adolescent stress or covariates and young adult stress compared to the permanently employed (16% vs.
stress were performed. Second (model 1), the associations 19%). Regarding the work environment, the proportion
between adolescent stress and young adult stress measures of individuals who experienced high perceived stress and
were adjusted for gender, own educational level, parental work stress at age 28 was higher among those with a poor
education, and level of income. Third, (model 2), the fully psychosocial work environment compared to those with a
adjusted analyses were performed, additionally adjusting good psychosocial work environment. The proportions of
for temporary employment and the four psychosocial females who reported high perceived stress or work stress
work environment factors. at age 28 were higher than in males.
Finally, a stratified analysis was performed to investigate Table 2 presents the associations between stress at ages
the association between accumulated adolescent stress and 15, 18, and 21 and perceived stress or work stress at age
young adult stress among individuals who had completed 28. Statistically significant crude associations were seen
their education less or more than 2 years ago. between high stress at ages 15, 18, or 21 and perceived
All odds ratios (OR) were presented with 95% stress or work stress at age 28, with increasing associations
confidence intervals (95% CIs) with a significance level in relation to increasing age and the strongest associations
of p < 0.05. Data analysis was performed using Stata in relation to perceived stress being seen at age 21 (crude
version 16.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas, association between perceived stress at ages 21 and 28:
USA). OR = 4.0). Adjustments for gender and socioeconomic
variables in Model 1 changed the estimates by a maximum
2.4. Ethics of 0.1 in relation to both outcome measures.
This study adheres to the principles outlined in the When additional adjustments for temporary
1975 Declaration of Helsinki (WMA, 2021). Approval for employment and the four measures of psychosocial
the study was obtained from the Danish Data Protection work environment were performed (model 2), the
Agency. Participants were provided with information associations between adolescent stress and young adult
regarding the project’s purpose, and their completion and work stress decreased to non-significant ORs in the range
return of the questionnaire were regarded as informed of 1.1 – 1.4. After adjusting for temporary employment
consent and willingness to participate in the study. These and psychosocial work environment measures, the ORs
procedures were consistent with the regulations in place between adolescent stress and perceived stress at age 28
during the data collection period in Denmark. According decreased; however, statistically significant associations

Volume 11 Issue 4 (2025) 29 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.0864