Abstract
BackgroundHealthy lifestyles may contribute to better mental health, which is particularly important in adolescence, an age at which half of all mental health problems first occur. This association may be even more relevant in adolescents of low family affluence, who show more mental health problems, as well as more unhealthy lifestyles. This study investigated healthy lifestyle behaviors, namely sufficient sleep and physical activity, daily breakfast intake, low levels of alcohol use or smoking, in relation to mental health and symptoms of mental health problems (feelings of depression, anxiety, stress and self-esteem) among adolescents from different family affluence. Furthermore, the moderating role of family affluence was examined in those relations.MethodsAdolescents aged 12-18y were recruited via a random sample of schools in Flanders, Belgium. A total of 1037 adolescents participated (mean age = 15.2, 49.8% female). Independent samples t-tests, Mann Whitney U-tests and χ2-tests determined the differences in healthy lifestyle behaviors and mental health indicators between adolescents of low-medium and high family affluence. Regression analyses assessed the association between healthy lifestyles and mental health outcomes and the moderating role of family affluence.ResultsAll healthy lifestyle behaviors were associated with at least one mental health outcome, with the exception of alcohol consumption. Adolescents from low-medium family affluence had lower levels of physical activity, less often took breakfast, had lower levels of alcohol consumption and reported lower self-esteem than adolescents from high family affluence. The results showed no moderating effect of family affluence for the association between healthy lifestyle and mental health.ConclusionThese findings support the value of integrating healthy lifestyle behaviors in interventions for mental health promotion, for both youth of low-medium and high family affluence.
Highlights
Healthy lifestyles may contribute to better mental health, which is important in adolescence, an age at which half of all mental health problems first occur
Consistent with previous studies [39, 40, 42, 47], the present study shows that adolescents from low-medium family affluence had lower levels of physical activity, less often took breakfast, had lower levels of alcohol consumption and reported lower self-esteem than adolescents from high family affluence
This study shows that healthy lifestyles are clearly significant predictors of mental health, and there are some differences in healthy lifestyles according to family affluence, we did not find any significant differences in symptoms of mental health problems between adolescents from low-medium family affluence and adolescents from high family affluence
Summary
Healthy lifestyles may contribute to better mental health, which is important in adolescence, an age at which half of all mental health problems first occur This association may be even more relevant in adolescents of low family affluence, who show more mental health problems, as well as more unhealthy lifestyles. Evidence-based treatments for mental health problems, such as psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, form a cornerstone of care available for those suffering from mental health problems Such treatments, face challenges: only small effects of treatment were found for a large group of patients [6, 7], young people are often reluctant to seek professional help [8], treatment comes at a high price for individuals and health care systems, and such treatments may have a range of undesirable side-effects [9]. Prevention of mental health problems is of utmost importance
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