Adolescent Protective Factors Research Articles

Social factors that promote resilience in adolescents with depression: a systematic review

Abstract Background A socially protective environment matters. Social factors can protect against the development of depression among adolescents in community samples. There is however scant knowledge about their buffering role on the impact of depressive symptoms in adolescents in a clinical setting. Understanding these factors can help explaining why some children function well despite of their depression symptoms. In this review, we aimed to identify which social protective factors mitigate impairment from depression in adolescents. Methods We included peer-reviewed, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies using the following search strategy: Social protective factors AND depression or depression symptoms AND adolescents AND daily impairment, yielding 1737 hits. Included studies focused on social protective factors in relation to a depression diagnosis or depression symptoms severity, in adolescents age 11-24. Preliminary results We found 6 studies that examined the relationship between social protective factors and impairment or severity of depression symptoms in adolescents with a clinical depression or elevated symptoms. In these studies, higher rates of parental attachment, parental monitoring and school belonging moderated the relation between depression symptoms and daily impairment. Higher rates of family support and peer belonging were associated with the low depressed mood group. The rest of the studies tested the association of social protective factors on the development of depression symptoms in non-clinical populations. Conclusions There are limited studies on the buffering role of social protective factors in adolescents with clinical depression. Next, we will focus on non-clinical, longitudinal studies to explore which social protective factors moderate the development of depression over time. We aim to identify social factors that can mitigate the development of depression in community samples and are potentially important for clinical settings. Key messages • There is a scarcity of studies that explored the relation between social protective factors in adolescents with elevated depression symptoms or depression diagnosis. • The role of social protective factors that moderate the development of adolescent depression symptoms over time should be prioritized in the development of intervention programs.

Religiosity’s Links to Adolescent Wellbeing and the Role of Supportive Networks and Sex

Research has extensively examined religiosity’s links to youth wellbeing, but it is unclear how the relationship may vary by supportive networks and sex. Analyzing data from the 2015 to 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the results showed that religious salience was negatively associated with the risk of having a past-year major depressive episode (MDE, OR = 0.65), a substance use disorder ( OR = 0.77), and delinquency ( OR = 0.94). Supportive networks also indicated similar associations. Furthermore, supportive networks and sex appeared to moderate religious salience’s links to having an MDE and delinquency in some aspects. The study concludes that religious salience appears to be a protective factor for adolescents’ mental and behavioral wellbeing, though some of its impact may vary by sex and supportive networks. The findings advance the understanding of religiosity’s role in adolescents’ wellbeing and suggest considering tailored plans for optimized outcomes.

Modifiable protective factors for mental health resilience in the offspring of depressed parents: A high-risk longitudinal cohort spanning adolescence and adulthood.

Several protective factors have been identified for mental health (MH) resilience in adolescent offspring of depressed parents. However, it is unclear if these effects persist into adulthood. Depressed parents and their offspring (N=188) from the Early Prediction of Adolescent Depression study were assessed four times (mean offspring ages 12.39, 13.77, 14.82, and 23.41). Mental health resilience was examined using residual scores (better-than-expected mood-, behaviour-, or anxiety-related MH at mean age 23 given risk exposure), and categorically as sustained good MH across adolescence and young adulthood. Only 9.2% of young adults demonstrated sustained good MH. Parents of resilient individuals showed lower comorbidity (anxiety, antisocial behaviour and harmful drinking) and higher depression remission. Considering adolescent protective factors, weak evidence was observed of associations of mood-resilience with adolescent peer-relationship quality (β=-0.20, 95%CI:-0.36, -0.04); friendship quality (β=-0.14, 95%CI:-0.31, 0.02); risk adjustment (β=-0.16, 95%CI:-0.34, 0.03) and dysfunctional attitudes (β=0.18, 95%CI:0.01, 0.35). There was weak evidence of behavioural-resilience association with parent positive expressed emotion (β=-0.15, 95%CI:-0.31, 0.02) and offspring exercise (β=-0.37, 95%CI:-0.77, 0.03). No adolescent protective factors showed an association with anxiety-resilience. For sustained good MH, there was weak evidence of an association with inhibitory control (OR=0.39, 95%CI:0.14, 1.07). Strong evidence was observed for associations between young adult-reported peer relationship quality and mood-resilience (β=-0.35, 95%CI:-0.53, -0.17), behavioural-resilience (β=-0.33, 95%CI:-0.51, -0.14) and anxiety-resilience (β=-0.34, 95%CI:-0.53, -0.14), while weak evidence was observed of an association of social activities with anxiety-resilience (β=-0.51, 95%CI:-0.97, -0.06). We found limited evidence for the long-lasting effects of adolescent protective factors on adult MH resilience. Social factors remained protective into young adulthood, while family factors did not. Early preventative intervention might not be sufficient to maintain good long-term MH, and young people will likely require more prolonged support.

The presence of meaning in life and character strengths as protective factors of anxious-depressive symptoms in adolescents from Spain and Russia during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT The presence of meaning in life (MiL) and character strengths (CS) are protective factors for adolescents’ mental health. The main objective of the present study was to explore transculturally the relationship between MiL and CS with anxiety and depression in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic among adolescents. Adolescents (N = 577) aged 14 to 18 (319 Russians and 258 Spaniards) completed online questionnaires during the pandemic. The results showed that in both samples, zest, gratitude, and love were the most robust predictors of depression symptoms; zest, hope, and love in girls, and self-regulation, hope, and presence of MiL in boys more robustly predicted anxiety symptoms. The findings provide data on the resilience function of CS and the presence of MiL during the COVID-19 pandemic and have important preventive practical implications.

School climate and connectedness predict problematic smartphone and social media use in Italian adolescents

ABSTRACT Adolescents and young adults are most at risk for developing problematic smartphone and social media use that negatively impacts their mental health and well-being. Students’ perceptions of their school environment are likely a key area of potential risk and protective factors for adolescents’ problematic smartphone and social media use, but more scientific evidence is needed. To examine the associations between school climate, connectedness, affective engagement, and problematic smartphone and social media use, 529 Italian high school students were surveyed. Statistical methods (Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis) were used to analyze the data. The results of the study showed that all variables in the study were significantly correlated with each other. There was a negative correlation between school climate, connectedness to school, affective school engagement, and problematic smartphone and social media use. Among the predictor variables, school climate and connectedness to school were the only predictors of both problematic smartphone and social media use. Studies using an experimental design should be conducted to confirm our findings and demonstrate directionality. Mobile media education in school, combined with adolescents’ sense of well-being at school, could play an important role in preventing problematic smartphone and social media use.

Hope and Ethnic Identity among Adolescents in East Nusa Tenggara

The formation of ethnic identity illustrates the important task for emotional development during adolescence. Hope is a protective factor for adolescents during the process of identity formation. This study aims to determine the effect of hope on the development of ethnic identity of adolescents in NTT. The participants of this study were 45 adolescents aged 17-19 years old who were studying at several universities in NTT. The sample of the study was taken by using purposive sampling technique. This study used the Children Hope Scale (CHS) and Ethnic Identity Scale to measure the effect of hope on the development of ethnic identity of adolescents in NTT. Hypothesis testing using simple linear regression analysis resulted in significance value (Sig.) 0.040 <0.05, t-statistic 2,115> 2,015, R square = 0.094. The results of the study show that there is a significant effect of hope variable amounts to 9,4% on the development of ethnic identity of adolescents in NTT. This study implies the need to cultivate hope as an effective variable in developing emotional skills of adolescents by way of improving solidarity among members in various ethnic groups in NTT.

Self-esteem and self-concept as correlates of life satisfaction and attitudes toward school among Ghanaian girls.

During adolescence, youth experience several physical, psychosocial, and cognitive changes. Self-esteem and self-concept are identified as protective factors for adolescents in high-income countries, but studies are limited in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined the associations of self-esteem and self-concept with life satisfaction and attitudes toward school using baseline data from 97 Ghanaian adolescent girls at risk of school dropout. Ordinary Least Squares regression models were fitted to examine the association between self-esteem and self-concept on school attitudes and life satisfaction. Self-esteem was positively associated with life satisfaction. Self-concept was associated with more positive attitudes toward school. Hence, self-esteem and self-concept may be critical protective factors in promoting adolescent girls' life satisfaction and positive attitudes toward school.

The Psychosocial Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Adolescents

Recent research dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of young people and adolescents focused mainly on the aspects with a negative impact, and also on the intervention methods to overcome this crisis and the post-crisis impacts on social life. In this research, I thought it would be useful to approach the issue from a different perspective, analyzing the ways in which some adolescents managed the pandemic period, using specialty support and also personal, social, school and family resources. The qualitative research - conducted through the semi-structured interview - and the thematic analysis were really helpful in summarizing information and in identifying/understanding some protective factors for adolescents during major social crises with a real psychological impact.

Maternal supportive responses to adolescents' negative emotions serve as protective factors for adolescents' hostile attribution bias longitudinally.

Existing literature has documented that parenting links to children's hostile attribution biases (HAB). However, little is known about the role played by parental emotion socialization in children's HAB. To address this research gap, the present study investigated the role of parental responses to children's negative emotions (PRCNE) in predicting adolescents' HAB using a longitudinal study. Adolescents (N = 203; Mage = 13.61 years old at Time 1), who were recruited from a city in mainland China, reported on their mothers' PRCNE and their own HAB at two waves over a year. The results showed that mothers' supportive responses (composed of emotion-focused responses and problem-focused responses) significantly predicted adolescents' reduced HAB over time; however, PRCNE including expressive encouragement, minimization, and nonsupportive responses (composed of punitive responses and parental distress) had no significant relation with adolescents' HAB. These findings add to the existing literature investigating antecedents to adolescents' social information processing deficits and biases.

The Association between Mindful Parenting, and Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Adolescence

Internalizing and externalizing symptoms are common among adolescents, and mindful parenting can play a pivotal role in their prevention. Study 1 explores the association between internalizing and externalizing symptoms and the moderating role of mindful parenting. Study 2 explores the longitudinal association between mindful parenting and externalizing symptoms and whether mindful parenting moderates the longitudinal stability of externalizing symptoms. In Study 1, 420 parents (81.9% mothers) of children aged 12 to 17 (M = 14) completed measures of mindful parenting and their children’s emotional symptoms and conduct problems. In Study 2, 151 adolescents (65.6% girls) aged 12 to 17 (M = 13.9) from Study 1 completed a measure of antisocial behavior two times one year apart. Study 1 found an association between adolescents’ emotional symptoms and conduct problems, and this association was moderated by mindful parenting. The association was significant only in adolescents whose parents reported low levels of the mindful parenting factor called “being in the moment with the child.” Study 2 found an association between antisocial behavior at Wave 1 and 2, and this longitudinal association was moderated by mindful parenting. The longitudinal relationship was statistically significant exclusively among adolescents whose parents reported low levels of “mindful discipline.” Mindful parenting seems to be a protective factor for adolescents’ externalizing symptoms. Specifically, “being in the moment with the child” can diminish the association between emotional symptoms and conduct problems, while “mindful discipline” can be beneficial for reducing the stability of antisocial behavior over time.

Analysis of Adverse Dietary Behavior and Its Influencing Factors among Early Adolescents in a City of Guangxi

Objective: To explore the situation of poor eating behavior in adolescents in early adolescence, analyze its influencing factors, and provide a theoretical basis for adolescents to formulate effective dietary intervention methods and nutrition improvement strategies. Methods: In April~November 2019, 1200 students were randomly selected according to the principle of stratified cluster random sampling in a city in Guangxi, and 1089 valid questionnaires were collected. General data use descriptive statistics, univariate analysis uses tests and t/t' tests, and logistic multivariate regression analysis is used to determine relevant factors. Results: (1) 806 adolescents (74.01%) were detected with bad eating behavior in early adolescence in a city in Guangxi, and the adolescents with bad eating behavior were older (P<0.001). (2) Univariate analysis found that the effects of mental toughness, personal strength and support, peer pressure, and parent-child relationship on poor eating behavior were statistically significant (both P<0.001). (3) The results of logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that psychological toughness, strong personal strength and close parent-child relationship were the protective factors of adolescents' bad eating behavior (personal strength: OR=0.960; parent-child relationship: OR=0.949High age and increased peer pressure were risk factors for poor eating behaviors in adolescents (age: OR=25.439; peer pressure: OR=1.052). Conclusion: In a city in Guangxi, adolescents with strong psychological toughness, strong personal strength and close parent-child relationship reduce the risk of adolescents' bad eating behaviors, and high age and peer pressure increase the risk of adolescents' bad eating behaviors.

Study Protocol: Adolescents of Ukraine During the Russian Invasion (AUDRI) Cohort

BackgroundSince February 14, 2022, Ukraine has once again been under attack by the Russian forces, putting the nation in one of the biggest emergencies in Europe since World War II. This puts Ukrainians at high risk of psychiatric disorders, amidst unseen attacks on infrastructure that have put massive strain on Ukraine’s mental health services. Despite this, the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among adolescents and their changes over time have not yet been documented in Ukraine during the invasion. More generally, there is a need to more comprehensively uncover the long-term consequences of war on youth, especially their risks and protective factors.MethodsThe Adolescents of Ukraine During the Russian Invasion (AUDRI) Cohort is the largest cohort of war-affected Ukrainian adolescents. We will recruit adolescents aged 15 to 18 years attending any school in Ukraine. Data collection will start early 2023, and will be held via online questionnaires every six months during the war as well as after the war has terminated. We will use several well-validated tools to screen for PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and eating disorders. In addition, we will ask participants about possible risks and protective factors of their mental health including resilience and social capital. Using the cohort, we will evaluate the trends in psychiatric disorder prevalence among adolescents in Ukraine over time and evaluate risks and protective factors of adolescents’ mental health.DiscussionThe AUDRI Cohort will provide a unique opportunity to learn more about trauma and resilience among youth in conflict settings, in addition to aiding international efforts to save the mental health of youth in Ukraine. At-risk adolescents identified from our study can directly become beneficiaries of targeted intervention themselves. Building evidence on the mental health of adolescents is especially valuable, as protecting the mental health of war-affected adolescents could help rebuild society and have positive consequences for generations to come.

Compassion in three perspectives: Associations with depression and suicidal ideation in a clinical adolescent sample

Abstract Background Adolescence is a critical period for mental development where the consequences of psychopathologies can be exceedingly harmful, and compassion has been identified as a protective factor for adolescents’ mental well-being. Aim The aim of this study was to explore three perspectives of compassion – Self-compassion, Compassion for others, and Compassion from others – and their relationship with depression and suicidal ideation in adolescents. Method This Swedish cross-sectional study included 259 psychiatric patients (ages 16–22). Participants completed a survey including the self-assessment scales “Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale – Second Edition” (RADS-2), “Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire – Junior Version” (SIQ-JR), and “Compassion Engagement and Action Scale – Youth” (CEAS-Y). Linear regression analyses were used to determine whether participants’ levels of compassion predicted depression and suicidal ideation. Results Self-compassion and Compassion from others significantly predicted both depression and suicidal ideation. Girls, on average, reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation and lower levels of self-compassion compared to boys. The correlation between compassion and depressive symptoms, however, appeared to be stronger in boys. There was also a positive correlation between Compassion for others and suicidal ideation. Conclusions The results suggest that Self-compassion and Compassion from others may have a significant protective effect against depression and suicidal ideation, especially in boys. However, due to the relatively small sample of boys (n = 40), further research is needed before any solid conclusion can be drawn regarding possible gender differences. Additionally, the combination of low Self-compassion and higher levels of Compassion for others may be associated with suicidal ideation.

Social intelligence as moderator in the relation between narcissism and aggression in at‐risk adolescents

AbstractThis study examined the moderating role of social intelligence (SI) in the associations of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism (VN) with peer‐reported overt and relational aggression (RA). The sample consisted of 286 adolescents aged 15 to 19 recruited from a residential program for youth who have dropped out of school. Results showed that whereas grandiose narcissism (GN) was related to both forms of aggression, VN was related to neither overt nor RA. However, SI moderated the relation between VN and both forms of aggression such that SI works as either a risk or protective factor for adolescents with higher levels of narcissism depending on the subdimensions of SI and aggression. The findings indicate that SI may play a role in how adolescent peers perceive the behavior of relatively narcissistic individuals.

The status and influencing factors of adolescents' mental health in a province of China: A cross-sectional study

ObjectiveTo understand the mental health status of adolescents in China and its influencing factors. MethodsThe stratified cluster sampling method was used to evaluate the mental health status of 5633 adolescents using the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90). ResultsThere were statistically significant differences in the overall mean score of SCL-90 and the mean score of each subscale among adolescents in gender, grade, family, and region. The mean score of the interpersonal sensitivity and phobic anxiety subscales of the adolescents with rural household registration was higher than that of the urban household registration. Except for hostility and phobic anxiety subscales, there was a significant difference between junior high school and senior high school students in the remaining subscales. There were significant differences between only children and non-only children in the obsessive-compulsive symptoms and phobic anxiety subscales. The mean scores of depression, phobic anxiety, and other subscales of left-behind adolescents were significantly different from those of non-left-behind adolescents. Female gender (OR = 1.789), different-grade (junior high school sophomore: OR = 2.201; junior high school third grade: OR = 2.004; high school freshman: OR = 2.279; high school sophomore: OR = 2.947; high school senior: OR = 2.112), different-region (central region: OR = 1.302; southern region: OR = 1.925) and high school (OR = 1.281) adolescents had a higher risk of mental health problems, while those from two-parent families (OR = 0.68) had a lower risk. LimitationsThis study is a cross-sectional study and not widely representative. ConclusionGender, grade, region, and academic period are risk factors, and a two-parent family is a protective factor for adolescents' mental health.

Mental health status of adolescents after family confinement during the COVID-19 outbreak in the general population: a longitudinal survey.

Few studies have examined the psychological impact on adolescents of family confinement and infection exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these surveys lacked follow-up data to determine how the family confinement affects participants’ depression and anxiety. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychological status and related risk and protective factors of adolescents after two months of family confinement for preventing COVID-19 in China, and compare them with baseline data. We surveyed teenagers in January 2020 before the COVID-19 outbreak (T1) and after home confinement (T2). We used the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Scale and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). 13,637 valid questionnaires were collected at T1, of which 22.34% reported depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) and 14.42% reported anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 ≥ 10). At T2, the rates decreased to 14.86 and 7.44%, respectively (all P < 0.0001). Of the adolescents, 223 reported potential risk of exposure to COVID-19. We then compared them to the 9639 non-risk adolescents using a propensity score matching analysis. The adolescents with potential exposure risk had higher rates of depression (26.91 vs 15.32%, P = 0.0035) and anxiety (14.80 vs 7.21%, P = 0.01) than risk-free adolescents. Among adolescents with an exposure risk, psychological resilience was protective in preventing depression and anxiety symptoms, while emotional abuse, a poor parent–child relationship were risk factors. Long-term home confinement had minimal psychological impact on adolescents, but COVID-19 infection rates accounted for 50% of the variance in depression and anxiety among adolescents even with low community rates.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00406-022-01459-9.

Common Illness with an Uncommon Course- In Adolescents use HEADSS

Adolescence is a period of emotional instability, during which high risk behavior including experimentation with drugs is common. Clinical manifestations of substance abuse and its withdrawal may mimic common illnesses. We report an adolescent who presented with acute dysentery with unusual course. HEADSS screening revealed psychosocial stressors leading to cannabis addiction. The child was diagnosed to have cannabis withdrawal. He was referred to the de-addiction clinic. HEADSS is a useful tool to identify risk factors and protective factors in adolescents. HEADSS screening during each interaction and early intervention when needed must be an essential component of adolescent health care.

Experiencing bullying's impact on adolescent depression and anxiety: Mediating role of adolescent resilience

Youth who experience bullying are at risk for psychopathology, indicating the necessity of identifying factors that may protect against the deleterious effects of being bullied. The present study expands upon prior research by examining resilience as a mediator of the effects of experiencing bullying on depression and anxiety within a sample of 2155 adolescents. Results indicated that youth who experienced bullying were more likely to have higher symptoms of depression and anxiety and lower resilience, while higher levels of resilience were associated with fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety. Resilience partially mediated the associations of experiencing bullying with depression and anxiety symptoms, suggesting that resilience may serve as a protective factor for adolescents who experience bullying. These findings have implications for programming that seeks to address bullying, peer victimization, and promotion of adolescent mental health.

Neglect, Abuse, and Adaptive Functioning: Food Security and Housing Stability as Protective Factors for Adolescents.

This study addresses gaps in knowledge of protective factors that support adaptive functioning among maltreated adolescents. The sample included 1003 high-risk youths participating in the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (53% female, 56% Black, and 82% living in poverty). Adolescent neglect (Exposure to Risky Situations, Lack of Monitoring, Inattention to Basic Needs, Permitting Misbehavior, Lack of Support) and physical, sexual, and emotional abuse were self-reported at age 16. Age 18 adaptive functioning measures included healthcare receipt (medical, dental, and mental health), self-rated global health, high school graduation or enrollment, prosocial activities, peer relationships (Companionship, Conflict, Satisfaction, and Intimacy), and independent living skills. Previous childhood maltreatment, demographics, and earlier prosocial activities and peer relationships were controls. Structural equation modeling showed that adolescent neglect and abuse were associated with lower adaptive functioning. Multigroup models showed protective effects for food security on the relationships between sexual abuse and self-rated health and between Inadequate Monitoring and Companionship. Housing stability buffered relationships between Inadequate Support and high school graduation or enrollment and between Permitting Misbehavior and independent living skills. Findings imply the need for adolescent-focused prevention, including the promotion of food security and housing stability to support adaptive functioning in maltreated adolescents. However, notable mixed findings show the need for additional research.

Social Determinants of the Mental Health of Young Migrants

Abstract. Background: Young migrants face particular risks to develop mental health problems. Discrimination and social support impact mental health, yet little is known about the differential impact thereof on mental health in newcomers, non-newcomer migrants, and non-migrants. Aim: This study sheds light on mental health (posttraumatic stress, behavioral problems, hyperactivity, emotional distress, peer relationship problems, prosocial behavior) and the overall well-being of newcomers, non-newcomer migrants, and non-migrants. Furthermore, the impact of social support and discrimination on mental health is investigated. Method: Descriptive analysis and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were applied to analyze responses of 2,320 adolescents through self-report questionnaires in Finland, Sweden, and the UK. Results: Newcomers, non-newcomer migrants, and non-migrants have different psychological profiles. While newcomers suffer more from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and peer problems, non-newcomers and non-migrants report more hyperactivity. Discrimination strongly threatens all mental health dimensions, while support from family serves as a protective factor. Support from friends has a positive impact on PTSD among newcomers. Limitations: As this study has a cross-sectional design, conclusions about causality cannot be drawn. In addition, history of traumatic life events or migration trajectory was lacking, while it may impact mental health. Conclusion: Different mental health profiles of newcomers, non-newcomer migrants, and non-migrants point to the need for a tailored and diversified approach. Discrimination remains a risk factor for mental health, while family support is a protective factor for adolescents. Interventions that foster social support from friends would be especially beneficial for newcomers.