Violent crime victimization and mental health among adolescents in Mexico

Objectives: To understand the association between violent crime victimization and mental health outcomes among adolescents in Mexico, and to define the link between the nominal classification of violent crime and mental health outcomes. Methods: We used fixed-effects linear and logistic regressions and survey data from the 2018–2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 National Health and Nutrition Survey (n = 26,187). Survey waves were conducted in all 32 Mexican states during: July 2018–June 2019, July–December 2021, July–December 2022, and July–October 2023. Results: Violent crime victimization was associated with higher scores of having depressive symptoms (CESD-7) (b = 1.93 points, ± 0.26), and greater likelihood of suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.32, ± 0.86) and suicide attempts in the last twelve months (aOR = 6.87, ± 2.74). More serious classes of violent crime relate to worse mental health outcomes among adolescents. Specifically, kidnapping, the most serious class of violent crime in our data, correlates with worse mental health outcomes when compared to robbery or aggravated assault. Conclusions: Violent crime victimization is linked to increased depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among adolescents. More serious classes of violent crime are associated with worse mental health outcomes in this population.