scholarly journals Mental health and loneliness in Scottish schools: A multilevel analysis of data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Goodfellow ◽  
Malachi Willis ◽  
Joanna Inchley ◽  
Kalpa Kharicha ◽  
Alastair Leyland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Behaviour ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
School Level ◽  
School Factors ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Negative Effect

Adolescent loneliness and poor mental health represent dual public health concerns. Yet, associations between loneliness and mental health, and critically, how these unfold in school settings are less understood. Framed by social ecological theory, this study aimed to identify key predictors of adolescent mental health, and examine school-level variation in the relationship between loneliness and mental health.Cross-sectional data on adolescents from the 2018 wave of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (HBSC) in Scotland were used (N = 5,286). Mental health was measured as a composite variable containing items assessing: nervousness, irritability, sleep difficulties and feeling low. Loneliness was measured via a single item assessing how often adolescents felt ‘left out’. Multilevel models were used to identify key social ecological predictors of mental health, associations with loneliness, and between-school variation.Loneliness, as well as demographic, social, and school factors, were found to be associated with mental health. Schools accounted for around 8% of the variation in adolescents’ mental health, and the between-school difference in mental health was greater among adolescents with high levels of loneliness. Additionally, the negative effect of loneliness on mental health was stronger in schools with lower average mental health scores.The findings suggest that schools can play an important role in shaping adolescent mental health. Our study uniquely identifies that school-based interventions targeting mental health may be especially necessary among lonely adolescents, and programmes aimed at tackling loneliness may be more beneficial in schools with poorer mental health.

scholarly journals Development of a dual-factor measure of adolescent mental health: an analysis of cross-sectional data from the 2014 Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e041489
Author(s):  
Nathan King ◽  
Colleen M Davison ◽  
William Pickett
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Construct Validity ◽  
Health Behaviour ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Canadian Health

IntroductionStudies of adolescent mental health require valid measures that are supported by evidence-based theories. An established theory is the dual-factor model, which argues that mental health status is only fully understood by incorporating information on both subjective well-being and psychopathology.ObjectivesTo develop a novel measure of adolescent mental health based on the dual-factor model and test its construct validity.DesignCross-sectional analysis of national health survey data.Setting and participantsNationally weighted sample of 21 993 grade 6–10 students; average age: 14.0 (SD 1.4) years from the 2014 Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study.MeasuresSelf-report indicators of subjective well-being (life satisfaction, positive and negative affect), and psychopathology (psychological symptoms and overt risk-taking behaviour) were incorporated into the dual-factor measure. Characteristics of adolescents families, specific mental health indicators and measures of academic and social functioning were used in the assessment of construct validity.ResultsProportions of students categorised to the four mental health groups indicated by the dual-factor measure were 67.6% ‘mentally healthy’, 17.5% ‘symptomatic yet content’, 5.5% ‘asymptomatic yet discontent’ and 9.4% ‘mentally unhealthy’. Being mentally healthy was associated with the highest functioning (greater social support and academic functioning) and being mentally unhealthy was associated with the worst. A one-unit increase (ranges=0–10) in peer support (OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.15 to 1.22), family support (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.28 to 1.36), student support (OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.24) and average school marks (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.27) increased the odds of being symptomatic yet content versus mentally unhealthy. Mentally healthy youth were the most likely to live with both parents (77% vs ≤65%) and report their family as well-off (62% vs ≤53%).ConclusionsWe developed a novel, construct valid dual-factor measure of adolescent mental health. This potentially provides a nuanced and comprehensive approach to the assessment of adolescent mental health that is direly needed.

A Longitudinal Study of Mental Health in Emerging Adults

2014 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica S. Bachmann ◽  
Hansjörg Znoj ◽  
Katja Haemmerli
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Need Satisfaction ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Consistency Model ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Health Model

Emerging adulthood is a time of instability. This longitudinal study investigated the relationship between mental health and need satisfaction among emerging adults over a period of five years and focused on gender-specific differences. Two possible causal models were examined: (1) the mental health model, which predicts that incongruence is due to the presence of impaired mental health at an earlier point in time; (2) the consistency model, which predicts that impaired mental health is due to a higher level of incongruence reported at an earlier point in time. Emerging adults (N = 1,017) aged 18–24 completed computer-assisted telephone interviews in 2003 (T1), 2005 (T2), and 2008 (T3). The results indicate that better mental health at T1 predicts a lower level of incongruence two years later (T2), when prior level of incongruence is controlled for. The same cross-lagged effect is shown for T3. However, the cross-lagged paths from incongruence to mental health are marginally associated when prior mental health is controlled for. No gender differences were found in the cross-lagged model. The results support the mental health model and show that incongruence does not have a long-lasting negative effect on mental health. The results highlight the importance of identifying emerging adults with poor mental health early to provide support regarding need satisfaction.

scholarly journals STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH RISKS REGARDING SUSCEPTIBILITY TO PEER PRESSURE

2021 ◽  
pp. 60-67
Author(s):  
Jasna Kudek Mirošević ◽  
Mirjana Radetić-Paić ◽  
Ivan Prskalo
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Behaviour ◽  
Peer Group ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Peer Pressure ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The University

Given that adolescents and young people spend most of their time in the educational system, advancements in neurodevelopmental research emphasize the important and complex role of peers’ influence on adolescents’ behaviour, suggesting that supportive programmes led by peers have a strong potential benefit (King, & Fazel, 2019). In many cases peers are the most important source of social support, and are therefore an important target group to investigate the factors of risk, signs of poor mental health and ways to assess their health behaviour and awareness of the care which should be taken regarding their mental health, as well as the resources and prevention models. The wish is to study whether there are differences regarding the mental behaviour in certain characteristics of susceptibility to peer pressure as a risk for the mental health of students of the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula and students of the Faculty of Teacher Education of the University of Zagreb, Division of Petrinja (N=440). The set hypothesis states that there is a statistically significant difference among students of the faculty in Pula and those in Petrinja in their assessment of certain features of peer pressure susceptibility as a possible risk for mental health. The results obtained at the x2-test showed a statistically significant difference between certain peer pressure features among students regarding their study environment linked to hanging out with peers who consume drugs and being tempted to try them, getting involved in risky behaviours if their peers ask them to, and betting or gambling because their friends also do that. The results indicate that in smaller communities social control and conformity in the students’ behaviour is more present due to their wish to fit in a peer group as well as possible, suggesting the need for strengthening the positive health behaviour of young people during their whole education in order to secure a healthy and productive adult population.

scholarly journals School Climate, Peer Relationships, and Adolescent Mental Health: A Social Ecological Perspective

2020 ◽  
pp. 0044118X2097023
Author(s):  
Emily Long ◽  
Claudia Zucca ◽  
Helen Sweeting
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
School Climate ◽  
Peer Relationships ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
School Based ◽  
Inclusive School ◽  
School Differences

The current study investigated peer relationship and school climate factors associated with adolescent mental health. Cross-sectional data from 2,571 fifteen-year old students in 22 Scottish secondary schools was used. Multilevel models tested for school differences in mental health, and nested linear regression models estimated peer and school effects. Results demonstrated no significant between-school variation in mental health. Peer victimization was the only peer effect associated with mental health. School-belonging, student-teacher relationships, and a perceived inclusive school climate were associated with better mental health, whereas a perceived school climate of exam pressure was associated with worse mental health. The findings highlight multiple aspects of school climate that could be targeted in school-based interventions for adolescent mental health.

scholarly journals Young people’s perspectives on the symptoms asked for in the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children survey

Childhood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 450-467
Author(s):  
Anette Wickström ◽  
Sofia Kvist Lindholm
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Everyday Problems

Although young people in Sweden report good health, there is an increase in self-reported symptoms. However, there is uncertainty regarding what these symptoms signify. Using interviews with 15-year-olds, this research examines what the symptoms asked for in the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children survey represent. The analyses takes inspiration from a performative understanding of surveys. It demonstrates that while problems such as feeling low and nervousness are reported as poor mental health, some participants refer them to deep-seated problems and others to everyday challenges. The results points to the necessity of reporting from symptom scales with caution to avoid the pathologisation of everyday problems.

scholarly journals Does social support moderate the association between hunger and mental health in youth? A gender-specific investigation from the Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nour Hammami ◽  
Scott T. Leatherdale ◽  
Frank J. Elgar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Health Behaviour ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Mental Health Score ◽  
Health Score ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
The Social ◽  
Canadian Health ◽  
Gender Specific

Abstract Background Youth who go hungry have poorer mental health than their counterparts – there are gender differences in this relationship. This study investigated the role of social support in the association between hunger and mental health among a nationally representative sample of youth in Canada in gender-specific analyses. Methods We used a probability-based sample of 21,750 youth in grades 6–10 who participated in the 2017–2018 Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children. Self-report data were gathered on hunger, mental health (measured via the World Health Organization-5 well-being index) and five sources of support – peer, family and teacher support as well as the school climate and neighborhood support. We conducted adjusted, gender-specific, multilevel regression analyses assessing the association between mental health, social support and hunger. Results We found that youth who reported lower support were more likely to experience going to bed hungry (relative to never hungry) across all support factors. As for the social support factors, all the social support factors were associated with a higher mental health score, even after controlling for hunger. Despite these results our final set of models showed that our measures of social support did not alleviate the negative association between hunger and mental health. As for gender-specific findings, the negative association between hunger and a mental health was more pronounced among females relative to their male counterparts. We also found that certain social support factors (i.e., family, teacher and neighborhood support) were associated with a higher mental health score among females relative to males while controlling for hunger status. Conclusions We find that five social support factors are associated with a higher mental health score among ever hungry youth; however, social support did not overpower the negative association between hunger and mental health. Food insecurity is a challenge to address holistically; however, hungry youth who have high social support have higher odds of better mental health.

scholarly journals Adolescent mental health, COVID-19, and the value of school-community partnerships

2020 ◽  
pp. injuryprev-2020-044050
Author(s):  
Marci F Hertz ◽  
Lisa Cohen Barrios
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Behavior ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Community Partnerships ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Youth Risk Behavior Survey ◽  
Youth Risk Behavior ◽  
The Status ◽  
System Data ◽  
The Impact

Newly released 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System data and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC)’2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report show that US adolescents continue to suffer from poor mental health and suicidality at alarming rates. These data alone would be cause for concern, but the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to further erode adolescent mental health, particularly for those whose mental health was poor prior to the pandemic. Given the status of adolescent mental health prior to COVID-19 and the impact of COVID-19, health professionals and schools must partner together now to mitigate potentially deleterious health, mental health and education impacts for children and adolescents.

Establishing a parsimonious model through comparing impact of key student and school factors on secondary school value-added effects

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-183
Author(s):  
Lijuan Li ◽  
Kerry John Kennedy ◽  
Magdalena Mo Ching Mok
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
School Level ◽  
School Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
English Reading ◽  
Significant Difference

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to establish and compare multilevel models that significantly predict school effects on adding value to their students regarding English reading from Secondary One to Secondary Six. Design/methodology/approach – The data were collected from 3,993 students within 66 schools in 2006 by the Educational Bureau of Hong Kong. Findings – When entering Secondary One, the students’ English reading ability was tested then again at Secondary Six. A range of value-added models were fitted to the data. The comparison across these models suggests that student individual scores at intake are the most powerful indicators of value-added. The intake aptitude test scores, aggregated to school level, and gender made no significant difference. At the individual level, student band was the significant predictor. School level effects were largely non-significant. Specific findings on value-added across the schools are visualized as evidence of the parsimony of the selected model. Research limitations/implications – Secondary data such as this while collected at one point in time nevertheless can still shed light on current policies and practices. It is particularly the case considering that the value-added effects system is still working in Hong Kong over decades but less examined academically. Originality/value – This study has produced some insights for stakeholders to identify influences on the value-added patterns.

scholarly journals The Transition of Medical Students Through Residency: Effects on Physical Activity and Other Lifestyle-Related Behaviors

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 488-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alba Pardo ◽  
Anna Mitjans ◽  
Lucía Baranda ◽  
Manel Salamero ◽  
James McKenna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
First Year ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Negative Effect

Background:Little is known about lifestyle choices and preventive healthcare-seeking behaviors during the transition from medical school graduation to residency training, a period characterized by increased rates of stress and lack of free time due to demanding working conditions. All of these issues are likely to affect physical activity (PA) level. This study explored the evolution of PA and other lifestyle behaviors during this transition.Methods:A cross-sectional study and a cohort study were conducted with medical students (2010) and physicians before and after the first year of residency (2013 and 2014). A self-administered questionnaire assessed PA, health and lifestyle behaviors.Results:From a sample of 420 medical students and 478 residents, 74% comply with current PA guidelines. PA decreased by 16% during residency. Low levels of PA were found among (i) females and in respondents who reported (ii) poor self-perceived health and (iii) unhealthy body weight (P < .05). Low PA level was also significantly associated with poor mental health in first-year residents.Conclusions:The transition has a negative effect on physicians’ PA level that may affect physicians’ own health and patient care. Medical programs should encourage residents to engage in PA to assure physicians’ personal and mental health.

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