Abstract
Purpose: The existing evidence suggests that a complete evaluation of mental health should incorporate both psychopathology and mental well-being indicators. However, few studies categorize European adolescents into subgroups based on such complete mental health data. This study used the data on mental well-being and symptoms of mental and behavioral disorders to explore the mental health profiles of adolescents in Europe.
Methods: Data collected from adolescents (N = 3767; mean age 12.4 [SD = 0.9]) from five European countries supplied the information on their mental well-being (personal resilience, school resilience, quality of life, and mental well-being) and mental and behavioral disorder symptoms (anxiety, depression, stress, bullying, cyber-bullying, and use of tobacco, alcohol, or cannabis). Multiple correspondence analysis and cluster analysis were combined to classify the youths into mental health profiles.
Results: Adolescents were categorized into three mental health profiles. The "poor mental health" profile (6%) was characterized by low levels of well-being and moderate symptoms of mental disorders. The "good mental health" profile group (26%) showed high well-being and few symptoms of mental disorders, and the "intermediate mental health" profile (68%) was characterized by average well-being and mild-to-moderate symptoms of mental disorders. Groups with higher levels of well-being and fewer symptoms of mental disorders showed lower rates of behavioral problems. Mental well-being indicators strongly contributed to this classification. Conclusion: Adolescents with the "intermediate" or "poor" mental health profiles may benefit from interventions to improve mental health. Implications for school-based interventions are discussed. Trial registration number (TRN) and date of registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03951376. Registered 15 May 2019.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 279-291 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 21 Aug 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Tudor [] and, later, Keyes [, ] have presented the dual continua model of well-being and mental disorders. Its validity has been supported by a considerable body of empirical research []. The model shows that subjective well-being and mental disorder symptoms are separable conditions contributing to child function predictions. It describes four mental health profiles obtained by combining these two dimensions. Several studies have explored mental health profiles integrating the mental disorder-related and positive mental health factors [–]. However, a few studies categorize European adolescents into subgroups based on such complete mental health data. The main aim of the current study, which is part of a wider research project, UPRIGHT (Universal Preventive Resilience Intervention Globally implemented in schools to improve and promote mental Health for Teenagers), is to obtain the mental health profiles for a large sample of European adolescents for the years 2018–2019. The study explores the positive factors (well-being, resilience, and health-related quality of life) and, mental disorder-related factors (symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, behavioral problems, and substance abuse), and the associations between them.
Funding Information:
The authors wish to thank the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme [Grant agreement nº 754919] for funding the UPRIGHT research and innovation project. The authors also wish to thank all adolescents, their families and professionals from educational centres involved in the UPRIGHT programme. Finally, we thank the following professionals for their support in the implementation of the UPRIGHT project: Jessica Fernández-Sevillano, Rosa Maimone, Serafina Agnello. On behalf of the UPRIGHT consortium: Iñaki Zorrilla-Martínez ([email protected]): Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Neurosciences Research Area, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Araba University Hospital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; University of the Basque Country UPV-EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; CIBERSAM (CIBER of Mental Health Area); Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. Patricia Pérez-Martínez-de-Arrieta ([email protected]): Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Araba University Hospital, Basque Country, Spain. Igor Larrañaga ([email protected]): Kronikgune Institute for Health Services Research, Ronda de Azkue 1 torre del Bilbao Exhibition Centre, Barakaldo 48902, Spain; Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Debagoiena Integrated Health Organisation, Research Unit, Arrasate-Mondragón, Spain. Sara Carbone ([email protected]): Bruno Kessler Foundation. Via Santa Croce 77, Trento 38122, Italy. Silvia Rizzi ([email protected]): Bruno Kessler Foundation. Via Santa Croce 77, Trento 38122, Italy. Valeria Donisi ([email protected]): Bruno Kessler Foundation. Via Santa Croce 77, Trento 38122, Italy; University of Verona. P.le L.A. Scuro, 10, Verona 37134, Italy. Hrefna Pálsdóttir ([email protected]): University of Iceland, School of Education, Saemundargotu 2, Reykjavik 101, Iceland. Alda Ingibergsdóttir ([email protected]): University of Iceland, School of Education, Saemundargotu 2, Reykjavik 101, Iceland.
Funding Information:
The aim of the UPRIGHT project is to develop an effective, universal, and holistic school-based intervention. The program is designed to be applied in the school years corresponding to the ages between 12 and 14, regardless of risk condition, and includes their families and the school communities. It is currently being implemented, and its effectiveness tested in different regions from 5 European countries: Basque Country (Spain), Lower Silesia (Poland), Trentino (Italy), Reykjavik area (Iceland), and the regions of North-Sealand, West-Sealand, Funen, North Jutland, and Eastern Jutland (Denmark). The UPRIGHT project is funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement Nº 754919. The research protocol has been published elsewhere [].
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
© 2021. The Author(s).
Other keywords
- Mental disorders
- Mental health promotion
- Prevention
- School interventions
- Well-being
- Youth