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Our aim was to examine measurement invariance of the Flourishing Scale (FS)—a concise measure of psychological wellbeing—across two study samples and by population characteristics among Canadian adolescents. Data were retrieved from 74,501 Canadian secondary school students in Year 7 (2018–2019) of the COMPASS Study and from the original validation of the FS (n = 689). We assessed measurement invariance using a confirmatory factor analysis in which increasingly stringent equality constraints were specified for model parameters between the following groups: study sample (i.e., adolescents vs. adults), gender, grade, and ethno-racial identity. In all models, full measurement invariance of the FS across all sub-groups was demonstrated. Our findings support the validity of the FS for measuring psychological wellbeing among Canadian adolescents in secondary school. Observed differences in FS score among subgroups therefore represent true differences in wellbeing rather than artifacts of differential interpretation.

Objective The primary objective of our study was to assess measurement invariance (by grade and sex) of the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Revised (CESD-R-10) scales in a sample of adolescents in Canada. If measurement invariance was demonstrated, our secondary objective was to estimate differences in scale scores across these subgroups. Methods We used data from 59,052 adolescents in Year 7 (2018–19) of the COMPASS school-based study. Measurement invariance was tested within a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis framework. Differences in scale scores were estimated using mixed linear regression which accounted for school-level clustering and adjusted for relevant confounders. Results Both the GAD-7 and CESD-R-10 demonstrated strict measurement invariance by sex and grade in our sample. Mean scale scores were higher among adolescents in grade 12 compared to grade 9 (βGAD-7 = 0.91, p < .001; βCESD-R-10 = 0.99, p < .001) and among female adolescents compared to males (βGAD-7 = 3.36, p < .001; βCESD-R-10 = 2.58, p < .001). Conclusions Findings support the validity of the GAD-7 and CESD-R-10 for screening risk of generalized anxiety and depression among Canadian adolescents, and further indicate that differences observed in scale scores across subgroups reflect actual differences in risk for generalized anxiety and major depression, respectively.

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ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine associations between depression, anxiety and binge drinking among a large sample of Canadian youth, while testing the moderating effect of flourishing. This research uses data from the Cannabis, Obesity, Mental health, Physical activity, Alcohol, Smoking, Sedentary Behaviour (COMPASS) study (2012–2021) with a large sample size collecting data on youth health behaviours within Canadian secondary schools.DesignCross-sectionalSetting14 secondary schools across Ontario and British Columbia, Canada.ParticipantsA sample of grade 9–12 students (n=6570) who participated in the Mental Health pilot of the COMPASS studyPrimary and secondary outcome measuresSelf-reported questionnaires assessed student binge drinking behaviours (5≥drinks), symptoms of depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (Revised)−10 scores≥10) and anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale scores≥10), and flourishing (Diener’s Flourishing Scale: 8–40).ResultsIn our sample of 6570 students, 37.0% of students reported binge drinking in the last year, and 41.4% and 31.7% of students report clinically-relevant symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. Anxiety (adjusted OR (AOR): 0.57, (99% CI 0.15 to 2.22)) and depression (AOR: 1.98, (99% CI 0.76 to 5.13)) symptoms were not found to be associated with binge drinking and we did not detect any moderating role of flourishing. Rather, factors that were associated with increased odds of binge drinking included sports team participation (AOR: 1.67, (99% CI 1.37 to 2.03)) and use of other substances (tobacco (AOR: 3.00, (99% CI 2.12 to 4.25)) and cannabis (AOR: 7.76, (99% CI 6.36 to 9.46))). Similar associations were found for frequency of binge drinking.ConclusionsConsistent with existing literature, binge drinking behaviours were problematic, as well as clinically-relevant symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, mental health problems and well-being may not be responsible for explaining patterns of binge drinking in youth. Targeted intervention efforts towards student athletes and concurrent substance users are necessary for addressing binge drinking in youth populations.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the sociodemographic, behavioural, and psychological characteristics of students who reported using cannabis in the school-year preceding cannabis legalization in Canada. Methods: Data were derived from 36,884 students attending 122 schools that participated in year 6 (2017–2018) of the COMPASS Study, a large, prospective cohort study that administers questionnaires annually in high schools across Canada. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of past-year cannabis use among students. Predictor variables used in the models included indicators of mental health and disorder, other substance use, movement, and students’ sociodemographic characteristics. We tested the moderating effects of polysubstance use with interactions between binge-drinking, cigarette use, and e-cigarette use. Results: One in 4 students reported past-year cannabis use. Factors associated with higher odds of cannabis use included higher grade, more spending money, identifying as indigenous, use of other substances (binge-drinking, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and opioid use), presence of depressive symptoms, and greater emotional dysregulation. Factors associated with lower odds of cannabis use included increased flourishing, recreational screen time of <2 hours per day, and adequate sleep time of 8 or more hours per night. Significant interactions between concurrent use of other substances on cannabis use were detected. Conclusions: Cross-sectional results suggest that students reporting greater psychological wellbeing and engagement in healthy behaviours are less likely to use cannabis. Future longitudinal research should investigate these associations as protective factors, and how the identified correlates may influence changes in student cannabis use patterns postlegalization. Objectifs: Le but de cette étude était d’examiner les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, comportementales et psychologiques des élèves ayant déclaré avoir consommé du cannabis au cours de l’année scolaire précédant la légalisation du cannabis au Canada. Méthodes: Les données proviennent de 36 884 élèves de 122 écoles ayant participé à la 6e année (2017-2018) de l’étude COMPASS, une vaste étude de cohorte prospective qui administre des questionnaires chaque année dans les écoles secondaires du Canada. Des modèles de régression logistique à plusieurs niveaux ont été utilisés pour estimer les probabilités de consommation de cannabis au cours de la dernière année parmi les étudiants. Les variables prédictives utilisées dans les modèles comprenaient des indicateurs de la santé mentale et des troubles mentaux, de la consommation d’autres substances, des mouvements et des caractéristiques sociodémographiques des élèves. Nous avons testé les effets modérateurs de la consommation de polysomes avec les interactions entre consommation excessive d’alcool occasionnelle, usage de la cigarette et usage de la cigarette électronique. Résultats: Un étudiant sur quatre a déclaré avoir consommé du cannabis au cours de la dernière année. Les facteurs associés à des probabilités de consommation de cannabis plus élevées incluent une classe supérieure, davantage d’argent de poche, l’identification comme étant autochtone, la consommation d’autres substances (consommation excessive d’alcool occasionnelle, cigarettes, cigarettes électroniques et consommation d’opioïdes), la présence de symptômes dépressifs et une plus grande dysfonction émotionnelle. Les facteurs associés à une probabilité plus faible de consommation de cannabis incluaient une durée accrue d’un dépistage de moins de 2 heures par jour, et de sommeil suffisant de 8 heures ou plus par nuit. Des interactions significatives entre la consommation simultanée d’autres substances et la consommation de cannabis ont été détectées. Conclusions: Les résultats transversaux suggèrent que les étudiants qui déclarent un plus grand bien-être psychologique et un comportement plus sain sont moins susceptibles de consommer du cannabis. Les futures recherches longitudinales devraient examiner ces associations en tant que facteurs de protection et déterminer comment les corrélats identifiés peuvent influencer les changements dans les habitudes de consommation de cannabis des élèves après la légalisation.

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Objective The aim of this research was to examine the bidirectional association between self-reported symptoms of mental disorder and physical activity among a large sample of Canadian secondary school students over time. Methods Linked survey data were obtained from 28,567 grade 9 to 12 students across Canada participating in two waves of the COMPASS Study (2017–18; 2018–19). Autoregressive cross-lagged models were run to examine the reciprocal relationships between self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and symptoms of depression (CESD-10) and anxiety (GAD-7). Models were stratified by gender, and accounted for grade, ethno-racial identity, and school-level clustering. Results Autoregressive associations show that neither symptoms of anxiety nor depression, at baseline, were predictive of mean MVPA at follow-up – consistent for the full sample and among both males and females. Higher MVPA among males at baseline was associated with lower symptoms of both anxiety (β = − 0.03, p = 0.002) and depression (β = − 0.05, p < 0.001) at follow-up. However, among females, higher MVPA at baseline was associated with greater symptoms of anxiety (β = 0.03, p < 0.001), but not symptoms of depression (β = 0.01, p = 0.073), at follow-up. Conclusion In our large sample of Canadian secondary school students, associations between physical activity and symptoms of mental disorder were not bi-directional, and these relationships differed in males and females. This study illustrates the complex nature of the relationship between physical activity and symptoms of mental disorder among youth. While results support the benefits of promoting physical activity among males to prevent or manage internalizing symptoms, the relationship among females warrants further investigation.