Psychosocial Adjustment Of Adolescents Research Articles

Longitudinal study examining academic expectation stress and distrust for Chinese adolescents: The roles of internalizing problems and hope

AbstractDistrust in social interaction is linked to health issues during adolescence, ranging from loneliness to aggression engagement. Previous research has attempted to elucidate the decline in trust from the perspective of perceived pressures, yet the understanding of how academic‐related pressures are related to distrust among adolescents is still limited. This 1‐year longitudinal study aims to examine the psychological mechanism underlying the relationship between academic expectation stress (i.e., the stress due to the external and internal expectations of academic performance) and the development of adolescent distrust. A total of 1992 Chinese adolescents in 7th and 8th grades completed measures of academic expectation stress, distrust, internalizing problems (i.e., stress, anxiety, and depression), and hope in a two‐wave longitudinal study (Time 1: December 2020; Time 2: December 2021; 54.42% girls; Mage at Time 2 = 14.02, SD = .76). Results showed that higher academic expectation stress at Time 1 predicted distrust 1 year later through increased internalizing problems. The relationship between academic expectation stress and later distrust as well as the longitudinal mediating effects of internalizing problems were stronger for adolescents with lower hope, whereas the total effect, direct effect, and mediation effects were nonsignificant for those with higher hope. The present study suggests that stressful academic expectations may impact adolescents’ intention to trust others, and highlights the protective role of hope in the psychosocial adjustment of adolescents who encounter stress from academic expectations.

Parental Attachment and Psychosocial Adjustment in Adolescents Exposed to Marital Conflict.

(1) Background: Interparental conflict is a phenomenon that poses a serious threat not only to the quality of life of the couple but also to the father-child relationship, mother-child relationship, and well-being of adolescents. This study examined the difference in parental attachment and adjustment in adolescents exposed to marital conflict versus those not exposed to parental conflicts in low-income areas. (2) Methods: 67 adolescents involved in Child Welfare Services (CWS) in disadvantaged neighbourhoods in southern Spain were examined. The sample was split into two groups according to the exposure to marital conflict. Subsequently, differences between groups were analysed on father attachment, mother attachment, aggression, antisocial behaviour, and emotional intelligence. (3) Results: Primarily, the data showed significantly worse attachment with the father among conflict-exposed versus non-conflict-exposed adolescents. These results were not found for the attachment with the mother. Additionally, greater anger and worse stress management were found in conflict-exposed adolescents. (4) Conclusions: The results partially confirmed the spillover and compensatory hypothesis. Practical implications point out that developing preventive interventions that protect the father-adolescent attachment in situations of family conflict is recommended.

Bicultural identity and adjustment among ethnoracially minoritized and immigrant adolescents

For ethnoracially minoritized and immigrant youth, identity formation involves efforts to integrate social identities that are derived from their ethnic-racial group memberships (i.e., ethnic-racial identity) and their connection to the country in which they reside (i.e., national identity). This study investigated the extent to which these two social identities were simultaneously associated with adolescents’ psychosocial adjustment via their associations with the integration of these identities (i.e., bicultural identity integration) and across adolescents’ identity domains (i.e., global identity coherence). This cross-sectional study (January 2020) included a US ethnoracially diverse sample of 355 adolescents (Mage = 15.95 years; SD = 0.79; 50.4% female; 40.6% Latino/a/x, 29.0% White, 13.2% Black, 8.2% Asian, 7.0% other; 76.1% US-born; 76.9% had at least one foreign-born parent) who completed online surveys in class. Structural equation path analyses with bias-corrected bootstrapping were conducted to test a theoretical sequential mediation model of identity and adjustment. Findings indicated that national American identity explained significant variance in adolescent psychosocial adjustment (i.e., higher academic engagement and self-esteem) via its unique associations with bicultural identity integration and global identity coherence. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses revealed some support for alternate models suggesting that the examined identity constructs may work in tandem with one another to inform adolescent psychosocial adjustment. This study highlights the multifaceted nature of social identity development and provides preliminary evidence regarding how the simultaneous development of adolescents’ ethnic-racial and national identities informs their psychosocial adjustment.

Profiles of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and psychosocial adjustment in South Korea: Comparison between probation and non-probation youth

BackgroundAdverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are risk factors affecting adolescent psychosocial adjustment. Youth involved in the juvenile justice system are more likely to have ACEs, but few studies have investigated this topic outside the western context. ObjectiveThis study aims to (1) compare latent profiles of ACEs among probation and non-probation youth in South Korea and (2) examine which profiles pose the greatest risk of maladaptive psychosocial adjustment (offline risk-taking, online risk-taking, school adjustment, and happiness). Participants and settingSouth Korean data adopting survey questions from the Fourth International Self-Report Delinquency Study was analyzed. Adolescents with complete information on regression covariates were included (non-probation: 1846/probation: 368). MethodsLatent profile analysis was utilized to identify distinctive patterns of ACEs. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression were performed to predict the maladjustment experiences of each latent subgroup. ResultsFour ACE profiles emerged for probation and non-probation samples. Three profiles were common (i.e., emotional/physical abuse, emotional neglect, high maltreatment/domestic violence) and one profile was unique (high maltreatment with family dysfunction for the probation sample; moderate maltreatment for the non-probation sample). In the probation sample, compared to the emotional neglect group, the other three profiles showed poorer adjustment in at least one domain. In the non-probation sample, profiles with high emotional/physical abuse and high maltreatment/family dysfunction had poorer outcomes than the emotional neglect group. ConclusionsThese findings indicate the need for a comprehensive approach toward adolescents and their family environments for preventing delinquency and promoting positive youth adjustment.

Prospective within-family bidirectional effects between parental emotion socialization practices and Chinese adolescents' psychosocial adjustment.

Previous research indicates that parental emotion socialization (ES) practices play important roles in adolescents' social and emotional development. However, longitudinal studies testing bidirectional effects are relatively scarce. Additionally, most studies have focused on people from Western societies. In the current 3-year, multi-informant, longitudinal study of Chinese adolescents and their parents, we investigated prospective bidirectional effects between parental positive ES practices and adolescents' psychosocial adjustment (i.e., self-esteem and depressive symptoms). Adolescents (N = 710 at T1, 50% boys, Mage = 12.41, SD = 0.59) reported on parental positive ES practices and their own depressive symptoms and self-esteem when they were in 7th, 8th, and 9th grade. Mothers and fathers reported on their own use of positive ES practices at all three time points. We utilized a random intercept cross-lagged panel model to examine between- and within-family effects. Overall results showed robust effects of adolescent depressive symptoms on parental positive ES practices and bidirectional effects between parental ES and adolescent self-esteem. Effects differed by informants whether using adolescent-perceived data, or mother- or father-reported data. However, these child effects and bidirectional effects did not differ by adolescent sex. Our findings add to the understanding of parental ES and adolescent psychosocial adjustment.

Parenting, Peers and Psychosocial Adjustment: Are the Same-or Different-Children Affected by Each?

The prospective research presented herein extends work on parent and peer effects on adolescent psychosocial adjustment by looking beyond average effects. Instead, it considers variation in susceptibility to each source of influence in order to assess the extent to which those individuals most and least susceptible to parent effects are similarly-or differentially-susceptible to peer effects. Data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (n = 1364, 48.3% female, age range: 10-15 yrs., race/ethnicity: 80.4% white, 12.9% black and 6.7% other) was analyzed to assess the degree to which each child was susceptible to parent and peer effects. Toward this end, an influence statistic, DFBETAS, was used. A significant and moderate positive association between the two susceptibility effects indicated that children most or least susceptible to the effects of quality of parenting proved to be similarly affected by their peers, although this was not the case for a substantial minority of youth. The fact that at least some children vary dramatically in the effects to which they are most susceptible is discussed with respect to potential targets of intervention, namely, parents or peers.

Adolescent Psychosocial Adjustment during COVID-19: An Intensive Longitudinal Study

ABSTRACT Objective COVID-19 has presented threats to adolescents’ psychosocial well-being, especially for those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This longitudinal study aimed to identify which social (i.e., family conflict, parental social support, peer social support), emotional (i.e., COVID-19 health-related stress), and physical (i.e., sleep quality, food security) factors influence adolescents’ same- and next-day affect and misconduct and whether these factors functioned differently by adolescents’ economic status. Method Daily-diary approaches were used to collect 12,033 assessments over 29 days from a nationwide sample of American adolescents (n =546; M age = 15.0; 40% male; 43% Black, 37% White, 10% Latinx, 8% Asian American, and 3% Native American; 61% low-income) at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Peer support, parent support, and sleep quality operated as promotive factors, whereas parent-child conflict and COVID-19 health-related stress operated as risk factors. Although these links were consistent for adolescents irrespective of economic status, low-income adolescents experienced more conflict with parents, more COVID-19 health-related stress, less peer support, and lower sleep quality than higher-income adolescents. Food insecurity was connected to decreased same- and next-day negative affect for low-income adolescents only. Low-income adolescents also displayed greater negative affect in response to increased daily health-related stress relative to higher-income adolescents. Conclusion These results highlight the role of proximal processes in shaping adolescent adjustment and delineate key factors influencing youth psychosocial well-being in the context of COVID-19. By understanding adolescents’ responses to stressors at the onset of the pandemic, practitioners and healthcare providers can make evidence-based decisions regarding clinical treatment and intervention planning for youth most at risk for developmental maladjustment.

Assessment of Attachment Representations in Basque Adolescents and their Relationship with Internalizing and Externalizing Problems.

Research has shown a relationship between attachment style and psychosocial adjustment in adolescents. Whereas secure attachment is related to fewer internalizing and externalizing symptoms, the opposite is the case for the various insecure attachment styles. The aim of the two studies reported in this paper was to adapt and validate the CaMir-R (a self-report measure of attachment that has shown adequate psychometric properties) for use among Basque adolescents, and to analyse the relationship between attachment and internalizing and externalizing symptoms. In Study 1, the instrument was adapted using the back translation method and applied to a sample of 203 adolescents and young adults. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the theoretical dimensions of the scale, and its psychometric properties were found to be adequate. In Study 2 we obtained additional validity evidence by applying, in a sample of 786 adolescents and young adults, the attachment representations section of the CaMir-R alongside other measures of attachment and clinical symptoms. The results once again supported the dimensional structure of the instrument, and evidence of convergent validity was obtained based on correlations between CaMir-R scores and scores on the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA). In addition, scores on the five dimensions of attachment representations (Security, Family concerns, Parental interference, Self-sufficiency and resentment of parents and Childhood trauma) were correlated with scores on other measures of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Based on these results, we conclude that the Basque version of the CaMir-R is a valid instrument for assessing the quality of attachment representations among adolescents, and also that internalizing and externalizing problems are related to attachment style. We discuss the importance of attachment in relation to behaviour problems and clinical symptoms.

Adolescent Attachment Profiles Are Associated With Mental Health and Risk-Taking Behavior.

This person-oriented study aimed to identify adolescents’ hierarchical attachment profiles with parents and peers, and to analyze associations between the profiles and adolescent psychosocial adjustment. Participants were 449 Finnish 17–19-year-olds reporting their attachments to mother, father, best friend, and romantic partner and details on mental health (internalizing symptoms, inattention/hyperactivity, and anger control problems) and risk-taking behavior (substance use and sexual risk-taking). Attachment was measured with Experiences in Close Relationships – Relationship Structures (ECR-RS); internalizing, inattention/hyperactivity, and anger control problems with Self-Report of Personality — Adolescent (SRP—A) of the Behavior Assessment System for Children, third edition (BASC-3); substance use with the Consumption scale of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) and items from the Finnish School Health Promotion Study; and sexual risk-taking behavior with the Cognitive Appraisal of Risky Events (CARE). Latent profile analysis identified five attachment profiles: “All secure” (39%), “All insecure” (11%), “Parents insecure – Peers secure” (21%), “Parents secure – Friend insecure” (10%), and “Parents secure – Partner insecure” (19%). “All insecure” adolescents showed the highest and “All secure” adolescents the lowest levels of mental health problems and substance use. Further, parental attachment security seemed to specifically prevent substance use and anger control problems, while peer attachment security prevented internalizing problems. Our findings help both understand the organization of attachment hierarchies in adolescence and refine the role of specific attachment relationships in psychosocial adjustment, which can be important for clinical interventions in adolescence.

A prospective investigation of developmental trajectories of psychosocial adjustment in adolescents facing a chronic condition - study protocol of an observational, multi-center study

BackgroundRelatively little is known about protective factors and the emergence and maintenance of positive outcomes in the field of adolescents with chronic conditions. Therefore, the primary aim of the study is to acquire a deeper understanding of the dynamic process of resilience factors, coping strategies and psychosocial adjustment of adolescents living with chronic conditions.Methods/designWe plan to consecutively recruit N = 450 adolescents (12–21 years) from three German patient registries for chronic conditions (type 1 diabetes, cystic fibrosis, or juvenile idiopathic arthritis). Based on screening for anxiety and depression, adolescents are assigned to two parallel groups – “inconspicuous” (PHQ-9 and GAD-7 < 7) vs. “conspicuous” (PHQ-9 or GAD-7 ≥ 7) – participating in a prospective online survey at baseline and 12-month follow-up. At two time points (T1, T2), we assess (1) intra- and interpersonal resiliency factors, (2) coping strategies, and (3) health-related quality of life, well-being, satisfaction with life, anxiety and depression. Using a cross-lagged panel design, we will examine the bidirectional longitudinal relations between resiliency factors and coping strategies, psychological adaptation, and psychosocial adjustment. To monitor Covid-19 pandemic effects, participants are also invited to take part in an intermediate online survey.DiscussionThe study will provide a deeper understanding of adaptive, potentially modifiable processes and will therefore help to develop novel, tailored interventions supporting a positive adaptation in youths with a chronic condition. These strategies should not only support those at risk but also promote the maintenance of a successful adaptation.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), no. DRKS00025125. Registered on May 17, 2021.

Risk and Protective Factors for Changes in Adolescent Psychosocial Adjustment During COVID-19.

The current study examined (1) changes in psychosocial adjustment among adolescents completing two surveys before COVID‐19 and those completing the final survey during COVID‐19 and (2) related risk/protective factors. Participants were 208 US adolescents (M age = 15.09, SD = 0.50, 48.8% female, 86.1% White; 40.9% COVID group) who completed longitudinal surveys assessing psychosocial adjustment and related risk/protective factors (e.g., emotion regulation, well‐being pursuits). Only adolescents completing Wave 3 during COVID‐19 experienced increases in depressive symptoms, negative affect, and isolation and decreases in positive affect and friendship. Several variables served as risk (i.e., dampening) and protective (i.e., eudaimonic and hedonic motives) factors of these changes. Findings highlight the range of factors that are distinctly associated with negative changes in adolescent adjustment during COVID‐19.

A Person-Centered Investigation of Adolescent Psychosocial and Academic Adjustment: the Role of Peer Attachment and Zhong-Yong Thinking

To gain a comprehensive understanding of adolescent psychological, social, and academic functioning, we employ a variety of positive and negative indicators (indexed by subjective well-being, problem behavior, prosocial behavior, and academic achievement) to explore adolescent adjustment profiles. Furthermore, we investigate the direct and interactive associations of peer attachment and Zhong-Yong thinking (i.e., Doctrine of the Mean) with these emerging adjustment profiles. A sample of 1759 Chinese adolescents (M age = 12.61, SD = 1.50; 51.1% girls) was involved in the present research. Adolescents were uniformly instructed to complete a battery of self-report questionnaires during public school hours, and their academic achievement was measured by self-report grades in mathematics, Chinese, and English. The results of a latent profile analysis showed four adjustment profiles: adaptive, irresponsive, maladaptive, and ambivalent. Moreover, the results of a multiple multinomial analysis showed that adolescents with secure peer attachment and high levels of Zhong-Yong thinking were likely to be the memberships of the adaptive profile. In addition, interaction analysis revealed that in the context of peer attachment security, adolescents with low (instead of high) levels of Zhong-Yong thinking were more likely to be the memberships of the adaptive profile than the ambivalent profile; by contrast, in the context of peer attachment insecurity, adolescents with high levels of Zhong-Yong thinking were more likely to be the memberships of the adaptive profile than the ambivalent profile. The current study expands prior research by presenting a comprehensive and person-centered view of adolescent adjustment patterns. Moreover, the study is pioneering in examining the direct and interactive associations of peer attachment and Zhong-Yong thinking with adolescent adjustment profiles, highlighting the compensatory interplay of these variables on adolescent adaptive functioning.

Body image disturbance, psychosocial adjustment and quality of life in adolescents with amputation

BackgroundPhysical and emotional situations experienced by amputees can affect body image and quality of life (QoL). Although adolescence is a time when appearance becomes more important, there are insufficient studies in literature examining the effect of body image disturbance (BID) on QoL and psychosocial adjustment in adolescents with amputation. ObjectiveTo investigate the BID, psychosocial adjustment and QOL in adolescents with amputation. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included individuals aged 11–18 years with amputation. The Amputee Body Image Scale was used to determine BID, the psychosocial adjustment subscale of Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scale was used to investigate the psychosocial adjustment to amputation, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory was used to determine the QoL. ResultsEvaluation was made of 42 adolescents (26 boys, 16 girls) with a mean age of 14.24 ± 2.25 years. Significant correlations were found between BID and age of fitting of the first prosthesis, psychosocial adjustment and QoL (p < 0.05). 38% of the variance of QoL was predicted by perceived body image and income of the family. 34% of the variance of psychosocial adjustment was predicted by perceived body image (p < 0.05). Adolescents suffering phantom limb pain were seen to have lower QoL scores (p < 0.05). ConclusionBID is an important predictor of psychosocial adjustment and QoL in adolescent amputees. Therefore, a prosthesis that ensures the integrity of the body image should be fitted at an as early age as possible before the onset of body image disorder.

Concurrent and Longitudinal Relationships between Positive Youth Development Attributes and Adolescent Internet Addiction Symptoms in Chinese Mainland High School Students.

In view of growing adolescent Internet addiction (IA) in the global context, there is a great need to understand the predictors of IA and design related evidence-based intervention and prevention programs. This longitudinal study investigated the relationships between Positive Youth Development (PYD) attributes and IA problems and the mediating role of life satisfaction using a large sample of Chinese high school students (N = 2648). Separated by one academic year, students completed a questionnaire evaluating their adolescent psychosocial adjustment, including validated PYD and IA measures. Multiple regression and structural equation modeling analyses were used. Consistent with the theoretical predictions of PYD models, results revealed a significant negative influence of PYD attributes on IA symptoms concurrently and longitudinally. In particular, general PYD attributes, such as emotional competence, spirituality, and resilience, showed strong and stable protective effects against IA. Life satisfaction also served as a mediator of the influence of all measures of PYD attributes on IA symptoms. The study underlines the importance of PYD attributes in promoting adolescents’ life satisfaction and preventing IA, and thus contributes to the design and implementation of evidence-based intervention and prevention programs.

Patterns of Romantic Relationship Experiences and Psychosocial Adjustment From Adolescence to Young Adulthood

Engaging in a romantic relationship is a key developmental task of adolescence and adolescents differ greatly in both the age at which they start dating and in how romantically active they are. These differences in romantic relationship experiences could be relevant for adolescents’ short- and long-term psychosocial adjustment. The present study describes the diversity of relationship experiences during adolescence and examines their connection to psychosocial adjustment in adolescence and young adulthood. N = 2457 adolescents (49.3% female) from a German representative longitudinal study provided information on their relationship experiences between the ages 10 and 20, as well as on their psychosocial adjustment. Data were collected via annual assessments starting in 2008 at age M = 16.50 years (SD = 0.88) through young adulthood (M = 25.46, SD = 0.87). Latent profile analysis identified three romantic involvement groups: late starters, moderate daters, and frequent changers, which were further compared to adolescents without any romantic experiences (continuous singles). Growth curve analyses indicated that continuous singles reported lower life satisfaction and higher loneliness than the moderate daters in adolescence and young adulthood. The continuous singles were also less satisfied with their life in young adulthood and felt more lonely in both adolescence and young adulthood compared to the late starters. The findings of the study suggest great variability in adolescents’ romantic relationship experiences and point toward the developmental significance of these experiences for short- and long-term well-being.

Food Insecurity and Adolescent Psychosocial Adjustment: Indirect Pathways through Caregiver Adjustment and Caregiver-Adolescent Relationship Quality.

Household food insecurity is associated with youth behavioral problems, yet few studies have examined potential mechanisms that underline this association, particularly among adolescents. The Family Stress Model (FSM) states that food insecurity potentially impacts adolescent psychosocial adjustment indirectly through its effects on parental psychological functioning and parenting. The current study examined data from the Children, Welfare, and Families study (N = 687, 53% female, Mage of child at baseline = 11.74 years, SD = 1.39) to determine whether household food insecurity at the beginning of adolescence predicts later behavioral outcomes and whether that association is mediated through caregiver depression and caregiver–adolescent relationship quality. Caregivers completed measures of past-year household food insecurity, current self-reported depressive symptoms and adolescent behavior problems, while adolescents completed a measure of current caregiver–adolescent relationship quality. A serial multiple mediator model, controlling for baseline values of mediators, outcomes, and relevant demographic covariates, indicated a significant total indirect effect, whereas the total direct effect was not significant. Significant indirect effects through both caregiver depression and caregiver–adolescent relationship quality were also found. These results are the first to explicitly examine the FSM with respect to household food insecurity and to demonstrate the indirect effects of food insecurity on adolescent adjustment. The findings indicate the need to improve food security and address subsequent intra- and inter-personal difficulties among low-income families that contribute to behavioral problems among adolescents facing household food insecurity.

Psycho-Social Adjustment of Adolescents of Working and Non –Working Mothers: An Exploratory Study

Psycho-Social Adjustment of Adolescents of Working and Non –Working Mothers: An Exploratory Study

Construct Validity and Reliability of the Chinese Version Personal Adjustment and Role Skills Scale III for Adolescents With Chronic Disease

PurposeA valid and reliable scale to evaluate psychosocial adjustment in adolescents with chronic disease is prudent for improving their health outcome. This study aimed to develop a Chinese version Personal Adjustment and Role Skills Scale III for Adolescents (C-PARSIII-A) with chronic disease and to examine its construct validity and reliability. Design and methodsA cross-sectional design was conducted. A total of 145 participants were enrolled from a hospital in Taiwan. Content validity, exploratory factor analysis, and corrected item-total correlations were used to explore a factor structure with appropriate items in a C-PARSIII-A. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to confirm its factor structure. Cronbach's α and test-retest reliability were performed to examine the reliability. ResultsThe 18-item C-PARSIII-A with six inter-correlated factors was developed. The standardized factor loadings of each item on its corresponding factor were statistically significant and higher than 0.50; composite reliability and average variance extracted were higher than 0.70 and 0.50 respectively. The correlation coefficients among the six factors in the C-PARSIII-A ranged from 0.10 to 0.84. Cronbach α and test–retest reliability of the C-PARSIII-A were 0.86 and 0.92 respectively. ConclusionsThe six-factor 18-item C-PARSIII-A is supported by sufficient empirical evidence for construct validity and reliability to assess the psychosocial adjustment of adolescents with chronic disease. Practice implicationsNurses can use the C-PARSIII-A to perform assessment and follow-up on the psychosocial adjustment of adolescents with chronic disease, as well as develop interventions.

School belonging in adolescents: Exploring the associations with school achievement and internalising and externalising problems

Aim(s)School belonging is critically important for both school-based outcomes and psychosocial adjustment of adolescents. The purpose of this study is to present further validation evidence for the School Belongingness Scale (SBS) and investigate the predictive effect of the school belonging on school achievement and mental health outcomes (i.e. internalising and externalising problems) in elementary school students.MethodParticipants included 223 students from a public elementary school in an urban city, Turkey (51.1 per cent female and 48.9 per cent male ranging in age from 10 to15 years (M = 12.09; SD = 1.03)).FindingsFindings of the study revealed that the scale had excellent data-model fit statistics, supporting the higher-order school belonging latent structure, comprising of two first-order constructs (i.e. social inclusion and exclusion), adequate–to–strong factor loadings, and adequate latent construct (H) and internal (α) reliability coefficients. Further outcomes indicated that school belonging had a strong predictive effect on school achievement, internalising and externalising behaviours among elementary school students.LimitationsWhile the study utilised a cross-sectional approach and is unable to provide causality, the preliminary findings have implications for schools and future research.ConclusionsThe study results provide further evidence supporting the impacts of school belonging in promoting youth academic functioning and mental health.

Predictors of Psychosocial Adjustment in Adolescents in Residential Care: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Adolescents in residential care have an increased risk of developing psychosocial problems, however, not all adolescents are equally vulnerable. This study aims to provide a review and methodological evaluation of current studies, which focus on protective and risk factors associated with the psychosocial adjustment of adolescents in residential care. Relevant literature was searched in five databases and we identified 25 publications, which met the inclusion criteria. Information regarding direct/indirect risk and protective factors was organized at the individual, social and contextual levels for different outcomes. The results showed that risk and protective factors, were mainly social and contextual factors. Moreover, very few individual factors were found to be related to psychosocial adjustment. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze each study and showed that some data was poorly or inconsistently reported. This review showed that research on risk and protective factors related to adolescents living in residential care is still limited. Therefore, longitudinal studies with high-quality design and power are needed.