Beyond the mind: Understanding the influence of mental health on youth NEET status in Europe—A systematic literature review

Abstract

Introduction: In the fields of labor market and education research, there is a vast interest in mental health factors affecting unsuccessful school-to-work transitions, dropout from school and labor market disconnections for young people. Young people who are not in employment, education or training are conceived of as NEET. Aim: To get an overview we conducted a systematic review of the present literature on the influence of mental health on the likelihood of becoming NEET in Europe. Method: A Systematic literature search was conducted in four databases on February 21, 2023, with an update on January 15, 2024. Results: 33,314 articles were screened whereas 41 studies involving 8,914,123 individuals were included. Poor mental health such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder, autism, depression, borderline, and psychosis during childhood and adolescence is strongly associated with becoming NEET. Conclusion: Mental health issues, whether mild or severe, heighten significant the risk of adverse education and employment outcomes in early adulthood, extending to young individuals with personality disorders, borderline personality disorder, and psychoses. These observations inform early intervention strategies for children and young people grappling with mental health challenges. Timely treatment is essential. Future research should focus on the gap in research like specific disorders such as eating disorders and anxiety.