Socioecological Predictors on Psychological Flourishing in the US Adolescence.

TaeEung Kim,Minju Kim,Chang-Yong Jang

doi:10.3390/ijerph17217917

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between children’s flourishing and socioecological factors, including individual and family characteristics. A total of 45,309 children were drawn from the 2011–2012 National Survey of Children’s Health in the US (mean age = 13.6 years; male: 51.28%). An ordinary least square (OLS) regression was performed to examine the association between socioecological variables and flourishing. This study assessed children’s individual needs (such as health, education, and emotional and behavioral development), their parents’ parenting capacity (the ability to provide basic care and safety), and family factors (presence of community resources and family income). Children’s individual characteristics, parent’s capacities, and family functions were found to be significantly associated with children’s flourishing. In conclusion, multilevel socioecological factors appeared to be associated with children’s flourishing. Hence, parents’ involvement in their children’s physical activities, as well as family and social support, is crucial for children’s flourishing. This study makes a significant contribution to the literature as research is lacking a correlation between socioecological factors and children’s flourishing; in particular, very few studies have explored or investigated the manner by which children’s socioecological health indicators and factors are associated with their flourishing.

Highlights

Flourishing, as a new definition and expression for happiness and well-being has been proposed [1,2].Individuals can flourish by fostering positive emotions, relationships, engagement, accomplishments, meaning and purpose, or participating in voluntary community services, helping them overcome their hardships, adversities, and/or trauma
This study examined the associations between socioecological variables and children’s flourishing, considering age, gender, and ethnicity differences
Self- and social-motivation, and are socially and emotionally unstable; this means that parents, family, and environments play an important role in their development and growth [10]

Summary

Introduction

Flourishing, as a new definition and expression for happiness and well-being has been proposed [1,2].Individuals can flourish by fostering positive emotions, relationships, engagement, accomplishments, meaning and purpose, or participating in voluntary community services, helping them overcome their hardships, adversities, and/or trauma. The concept of flourishing relates to a combination of emotional happiness and self-achievement in one’s environment. Flourishing can help children by promoting and improving health and well-being, both emotionally and physically, in later life [3,4]. This is mainly achieved through the enhancing of the children’s resilience and creativity [5]. A group of adults was examined using longitudinal data and reported a substantial and pervasive difference in health and well-being between those who had flourished at secondary school and those who had not [4] They indicated that the adults’ attained better life quality dependent on their school engagement and academic accomplishment, which again differed between those who had flourished and those who had not [4]. Public Health 2020, 17, 7917; doi:10.3390/ijerph17217917 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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