Determinants of Positive Mental Health in Adolescents–A Cross-Sectional Study on Relationships between Positive Mental Health, Self-Esteem, Character Strengths and Social Inclusion

Abstract

Adolescence is a crucial time period with especial vulnerability for development of mental health problems. Growing interest is focusing on the determinants of positive mental health in order to find the key concepts that could be influenced in the promotion of mental well-being of adolescents. In this study we aim to explore the relations between self-esteem, character strengths and experience of social inclusion as determinants of adolescents' positive mental health controlled for selected sociodemographic background factors. The study population (n = 195) consisted of comprehensive school students who filled in an electronic questionnaire of adolescent's mental well-being in Fall 2019. The questionnaire included measures of Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), VIA Youth-measure 96, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Experience of Social Inclusion Scale. The methods included group comparisons and General Linear Model computed by SPSS 24.0. The strongest association was found between positive mental health and self-esteem (β = 0.789, p < 0.001), followed by character strengths of hope and kindness and experience of social inclusion. Interestingly, family's socioeconomic factors did not associate significantly with positive mental health in the final statistical model. In terms of our results, it seems that self-esteem, character strengths and experience of social inclusion might have stronger association with adolescents' mental well-being than family's socioeconomic determinants. Therefore, it should be discussed whether psychological determinants overcome the individual effect of poor socioeconomic status as factors that influence positive mental health. Further studies are needed to establish these results more firmly.

Estratégias para promoção da saúde mental de crianças e adolescentes no contexto escolar: uma revisão sistemática

“…As competências socioemocionais também foram identificadas nos artigos, em que se discute tais competências como autoestima, gratidão, esperança, bondade e inclusão social, desempenham um papel crucial na promoção da saúde mental positiva em adolescentes, estando diretamente relacionadas a uma melhoria no bem-estar emocional e mental dos jovens, destacando a importância de desenvolvê-las e fortalecê-las para o bem-estar geral dos adolescentes (Ahrnberg et al, 2021). Estas competências referem-se ao conjunto de habilidades que envolvem a capacidade de compreender, expressar e gerenciar emoções, bem como estabelecer e manter relacionamentos saudáveis, tomar decisões responsáveis e enfrentar desafios de forma eficaz.…”

The Relative Role of Family Affluence and Social Support on Depression and Selfesteem among Adolescents in Nigeria: a Cross-sectional Study

“…They are causally linked to mental health, interacting with polygenic risk factors to shape psychological well-being ( 18 ). Social determinants of health also significantly influence positive mental health and mental disorder among adolescents ( 19 ).…”