Emerging challenges in adolescent health

Background: Globally, there is increased research and media attention about how young people are experiencing climate change. Much of this attention is about the worry and concern young people feel about climate change, with recent survey research finding that the majority of young people are at least moderately worried about climate change.

Objective(s): To examine the perceptions that Canadian adolescents have about survey measures that have been used to study climate emotions and the coping strategies they use.

Methods: Seven online focus groups occurred in December 2022 with Canadian adolescents aged 15-18. The focus groups began with a brainstorming activity followed by a semi-structured discussion about climate emotion survey questions that have been used in previous surveys. Data were analyzed using rapid thematic analysis.

Results: Overall, Canadian adolescents showed a preference for questions that allowed for more nuance in their response. Questions that were seen to allow for a variety of perspectives were also favored. 

Conclusions: Findings from this study can be used to guide survey item development/adaptation in this emerging field of inquiry.

Background: Adolescents are at increased risk of mental health problems due to the natural processes of development and maturation. Given that their mental health is mainly assessed by adults and not by the adolescents themselves, the objective of this study was to reveal adolescents' perceptions of mental health.

Method: The qualitative study consisted of 19 adolescents aged 11–17 years. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted, and thematic analysis was applied.

Results: Five themes were identified: 1) What does mental health mean to you? (Realm of emotions; Customary behaviour, Relationships with others, 2) Needs (Communication and support; Self-expression and freedom of decision-making; Safe and personal environment), 3) Risk factors (Unhealthy relationships, Social media dangers), 4) Red flags (Self-exclusion from social life; Self-destructive behaviour), and 5) Role of mental health professionals (Attentiveness to and proper pace for adolescent, Acceptance of adolescent’s life in its entirety).

Conclusions: Adolescents view their mental health not only from an emotional and behavioral perspective but also through the prism of relationships with other people.

Background: The Dual Factor Model (DFM) of mental health takes in account the psychopathology symptoms, but also the positive affects of well-being, in order to have a comprehensive view of mental health.

Objective: Explore the profiles of the well-being and mental health, based on the DFM, and the factors associated to it, during adolescence in Luxembourg.

Method: The study is based on the 2022 HBSC survey. It comprehends 7201 adolescents from 11 to 18-years old, that attended schools in Luxembourg with national curriculum. Based on DFM and according to subjective well-being (WHO-5 Index) and anxiety symptomatology (GAD-2), the sample was divided in 4 groups: 1. complete mental health; 2. incomplete mental health; 3. incomplete mental illness; 4. complete mental illness. It was performed descriptive and bivariate analysis based on a selection of sociodemographic, physical and social variables.

Results: Results show that most of the adolescents have Complete mental health (49.5%), followed by 21.9% of Complete mental illness (Incomplete mental health 16.3%; Incomplete mental illness 12.2%). Each group has different characteristics. For instance, Complete mental illness is characterized by girls, adolescents with fair/poor perceived health, frequent multiple health complaints, who rarely practice vigorous physical activity, who report low/medium support from teacher, low support from family and often feel lonely.

Conclusion: The four profiles vary according to the influence of well-being on mental health. Interventions and prevent strategies should focus on girls and physical and social dimensions of adolescents’ life.

Background: Over the last decades a trend of increased diversity in family structures has developed. 

Objectives: Examine associations between various family structures and physical activity among adolescents, how these relate to sociodemographic factors as well as cross-national variations in the associations.

Methods: The data stem from the 2013/14 HBSC study involving nationally representative samples of adolescents (n = 211.798) from 41 countries. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations between family structure and measures of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and vigorous physical activity (VPA).  

Results: The effect of living in a one-parent versus two-parent family on daily 60min MVPA was significant for boys (OR=.93, 95%CI .89, .98), and differed across SES levels. Having siblings in the main home increased the likelihood of daily 60min MVPA (OR 1.14, 95%CI 1.10, 1.19). The was a negative effect of living in a one-parent family on 4 times/week VPA (OR 0.90, 95%CI0.87,0.93) and for having grandparents in the main home (OR 0.89, 95%CI0.86,0.92). Cross-national variations in the association between family structure and physical activity were observed, most pronounced for VPA. The differences varied by region, largely explained by differences in country-level SES between regions. 

Conclusions: The study indicates that family structure is associated with physical activity, and living in a one-parent family is generally unfavourable, with cross-national variations. A lower likelihood of VPA in one-parent families versus two-parent families in several high-SES countries suggests that existing welfare policies may be insufficient to eliminate inequalities related to family structure differences.