Adolescent Connectedness and Adult Health Outcomes

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Because little is known about long-term effects of adolescent protective factors across multiple health domains, we examined associations between adolescent connectedness and multiple health-related outcomes in adulthood. METHODS: We used weighted data from Waves I and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 14 800). Linear and logistic models were used to examine associations between family and school connectedness in adolescence and self-reported health risk behaviors and experiences in adulthood, including emotional distress, suicidal thoughts and attempts, physical violence victimization and perpetration, intimate partner physical and sexual violence victimization, multiple sex partners, condom use, sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnosis, prescription drug misuse, and other illicit drug use. RESULTS: In multivariable analyses, school connectedness in adolescence had independent protective associations in adulthood, reducing emotional distress and odds of suicidal ideation, physical violence victimization and perpetration, multiple sex partners, STI diagnosis, prescription drug misuse, and other illicit drug use. Similarly, family connectedness had protective effects for emotional distress, all violence indicators, including intimate partner violence, multiple sex partners, STI diagnosis, and both substance use indicators. Compared to individuals with low scores for each type of connectedness, having high levels of both school and family connectedness was associated with 48% to 66% lower odds of health risk behaviors and experiences in adulthood, depending on the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Family and school connectedness may have long-lasting protective effects across multiple health outcomes related to mental health, violence, sexual behavior, and substance use. Increasing both family and school connectedness during adolescence has the potential to promote overall health in adulthood.

Toward an Integrated Model of Supportive Peer Relationships in Early Adolescence: A Systematic Review and Exploratory Meta-Analysis

“…In line with previous research (Witherspoon et al, 2009) the school surroundings is a key environmental plane for SPR in our model and for well-being in general. As discussed, school belonging and relationship with the teacher (conventional relationships) are protective (Steiner et al, 2019), especially for children faced with adversity in the family (Nichols et al, 2016;Foster et al, 2017).…”

The effects of a dance intervention on somatic symptoms and emotional distress in adolescent girls: A randomized controlled trial

“…depression), well-being mood and self-esteem, 14,15 and positively influences social connectedness. 14 Steiner et al 16 highlight the importance of connectedness and fostering a sense of caring, support and belonging in mental health interventions for young people. Group dance is a social type of physical activity popular with young women.…”

School Belonging Predicts whether an Emerging Adult will be Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) after School

“…There are many mechanisms by which school belonging might lead to non-participation in education, employment, and training in adulthood. Low school belonging during schooling is associated with increased emotional distress, physical violence (both as a perpetrator and a victim), increased prescription drug and other drug misuse, and STI diagnoses in adulthood (Steiner et al, 2019): factors which have been found to preclude employment (Hammer, 1997). Poor psychological health outcomes identified in adolescence, resulting in low school belonging, could lead young people to be marginalized in society (Allen, Kern, Vella-Brodrick, & Waters, 2018;Sapiro & Ward, 2019).…”