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Children
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Advances in Adolescent Mental Health: Early Prevention and Intervention
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Advances in Adolescent Mental Health: Early Prevention and Intervention

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 August 2026 | Viewed by 8164

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Paolo Bozzato

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Human Sciences, Territory and Innovation, Via Sant'Abbondio, 12, I-22100 Como, Italy
Interests: adolescent mental health and well-being; future orientation; smartphone and social media use; school transition; gender stereotypes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Matteo Fabris

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10123 Turin, Italy
Interests: adolescent mental health; attachment; sexual behaviors; aggressive behaviors; PTSD; bullying and cyberbullying; student–teacher relationships; school psychology; child abuse and neglect
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Adolescence is a critical period in terms of mental health, being marked by profound psychological, emotional, and social transitions. In recent decades, research has emphasized the importance of early prevention and intervention in order to foster psychological well-being and reduce the onset of mental health disorders. This Special Issue aims to explore cutting-edge studies that promote adolescent mental health and well-being, with a particular focus on resilience, emotion regulation, empathy, and future orientation—protective factors that support positive developmental trajectories. We invite contributions that advance theoretical models, empirical findings, and applied practices in educational, clinical, or community settings. Papers addressing culturally responsive interventions, digital tools, and longitudinal research are especially welcome. By integrating diverse methodologies and interdisciplinary perspectives, this Special Issue seeks to inform effective, scalable, and evidence-based strategies for strengthening adolescent mental health.

Dr. Paolo Bozzato
Dr. Matteo Fabris
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • adolescent mental health
  • psychological well-being
  • mental health promotion
  • protective factors
  • resilience
  • emotion regulation
  • empathy
  • prevention
  • early intervention
  • social-emotional learning

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 410 KB  
Article
Vulnerable Attachment Style Questionnaire: Preliminary Evidence for a Revised Factor Structure Among Adolescents in Residential Care
by Ana Simão, Cátia Martins, Antonia Bifulco and Cristina Nunes
Children 2026, 13(4), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13040551 - 15 Apr 2026
Viewed by 174
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The attachment framework has been used to understand individuals’ development and the emergence of difficulties in specific contexts and developmental stages. The Vulnerable Attachment Style Questionnaire (VASQ) is a brief self-report measure initially designed to assess adult attachment as a vulnerability factor [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The attachment framework has been used to understand individuals’ development and the emergence of difficulties in specific contexts and developmental stages. The Vulnerable Attachment Style Questionnaire (VASQ) is a brief self-report measure initially designed to assess adult attachment as a vulnerability factor for the development of depression. The present study aimed to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the VASQ in a sample of adolescents living in residential care and to provide preliminary evidence for a revised version of the instrument in this population. Methods: A total of 438 youths, aged 12 to 18 years (M = 15.34), completed the questionnaire. Data were randomly split to conduct independent exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Results: A three-factor model, consisting of two types of insecurity (ambivalent and avoidant) and a proximity-seeking dimension, emerged as the best-fitting solution. This revised structure involved removing several items while maintaining acceptable psychometric properties and meaningful associations with psychological adjustment. Concurrent validity was assessed by examining youth psychological adjustment, and positive correlations emerged as expected. Conclusions: The findings provide preliminary support for a shortened, restructured version of the VASQ for adolescents in residential care. Rather than confirming the original factorial structure, the results highlight the need to consider population-specific adaptations of the instrument. This version may have potential utility in clinical or intervention contexts and underscores the need to train institutional workers to develop competencies tailored to this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Adolescent Mental Health: Early Prevention and Intervention)
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17 pages, 784 KB  
Article
Problem-Solving Skills and Career Aspirations: The Role of Identity Acquisition and Self-Understanding in Italian Students
by Emanuela Calandri, Enrico Vitolo, Jessica Verdiglione, Martina Bollo, Angelica Arace, Paola Ricchiardi, Teodora Lattanzi, Marianna Campione and Silvia Gattino
Children 2026, 13(2), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13020285 - 19 Feb 2026
Viewed by 557
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Adolescence is a critical developmental period in which individuals are required to orient themselves toward the future and construct a coherent life plan, including educational and career aspirations. Future orientation is closely linked to identity development and self-understanding, which allow adolescents to [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Adolescence is a critical developmental period in which individuals are required to orient themselves toward the future and construct a coherent life plan, including educational and career aspirations. Future orientation is closely linked to identity development and self-understanding, which allow adolescents to integrate past, present, and anticipated future selves. Among the personal resources supporting this process, problem-solving skills play a key role by enabling effective coping with challenges and informed, goal-directed decision-making. This study examined the association between problem-solving skills and adolescents’ aspirations for an ideal occupation, and tested whether this relationship was mediated by identity acquisition and self-understanding, with attention to gender differences. Methods: A quantitative study design was adopted. Participants were 2443 Italian adolescents (aged 15–19 years) attending upper secondary schools. They completed self-report measures assessing perceived problem-solving skills, identity acquisition, self-understanding, and aspiration for an ideal occupation. Two multigroup mediation models were tested using structural equation modeling, examining identity acquisition and self-understanding as mediators and comparing pathways across genders. Results: Problem-solving skills were indirectly associated with stronger aspirations toward an ideal occupation through identity-related processes. Identity acquisition mediated this association only among females, whereas self-understanding emerged as a significant mediator for both females and males, with partial mediation among females and full mediation among males. Conclusions: Overall, although constrained by the cross-sectional design, the findings are consistent with the notion that problem-solving skills contribute to future-oriented career aspirations chiefly by promoting identity coherence and self-clarity. These findings highlight the importance of integrating problem-solving training with identity-focused interventions in educational and career guidance programs, while considering gender-specific developmental pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Adolescent Mental Health: Early Prevention and Intervention)
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21 pages, 337 KB  
Article
Implementing PROMEHS to Foster Social and Emotional Learning, Resilience, and Mental Health: Evidence from Croatian Schools
by Sanja Tatalović Vorkapić, Lidija Vujičić, Akvilina Čamber Tambolaš, Ilaria Grazzani, Valeria Cavioni, Carmel Cefai and Liberato Camilleri
Children 2026, 13(1), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13010154 - 22 Jan 2026
Viewed by 653
Abstract
Background/Objectives: In light of the concerning research data on students’ mental health, it is essential to provide high-quality programs that support children and young people in strengthening their psychological well-being. To address this need, the three-year Erasmus+ KA3 international project PROMEHS: Promoting [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: In light of the concerning research data on students’ mental health, it is essential to provide high-quality programs that support children and young people in strengthening their psychological well-being. To address this need, the three-year Erasmus+ KA3 international project PROMEHS: Promoting Mental Health at Schools was developed. The project involved universities and education policy representatives from seven European countries, Italy (project leader), Greece, Croatia, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, and Romania. Its core activities included the development of the PROMEHS curriculum, grounded in three key components: social and emotional learning, resilience, and the prevention of behavioral problems, alongside a rigorous evaluation of its implementation. The main research aim was to test the effect of PROMEHS on students’ and teachers’ mental health. Methods: In Croatia, the curriculum was introduced following the training of teachers (N = 76). It was implemented in kindergartens, and primary and secondary schools (N = 32), involving a total of 790 children. Using a quasi-experimental design, data were collected at two measurement points in both experimental and control groups by teachers, parents, and students. Results: The findings revealed significant improvements in children’s social and emotional competencies and resilience, accompanied by reductions in behavioural difficulties. These effects were most evident in teachers’ assessments, compared to parents’ ratings and student self-reports. Furthermore, teachers reported a significantly higher level of psychological well-being following implementation. Conclusions: Bearing in mind some study limitations, it can be concluded that this study provides evidence of the positive effects of PROMEHS in Croatian educational settings. Building on these outcomes and PROMEHS as an evidence-based program, a micro-qualification education was created to ensure the sustainability and systematic integration of the PROMEHS curriculum into Croatian kindergartens and schools. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Adolescent Mental Health: Early Prevention and Intervention)
21 pages, 717 KB  
Article
Perceived Financial Strain and Adolescent Mental Health: Evidence from a Population-Based Study in South Tyrol, Italy
by Christian J. Wiedermann, Verena Barbieri, Hendrik Reismann, Giuliano Piccoliori, Adolf Engl and Doris Hager von Strobele-Prainsack
Children 2026, 13(1), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13010121 - 13 Jan 2026
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 848
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Socioeconomic stressors, such as financial strain, rising living costs, and perceived price burden, have gained relevance in the post-pandemic period and may adversely affect adolescent mental health. This study examined the association between subjective financial stress and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Socioeconomic stressors, such as financial strain, rising living costs, and perceived price burden, have gained relevance in the post-pandemic period and may adversely affect adolescent mental health. This study examined the association between subjective financial stress and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and emotional/behavioral difficulties among adolescents in Northern Italy. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2025 Corona and Psyche South Tyrol (COP-S) population survey. A total of 2554 adolescents aged 11–19 years and their parents participated; 1598 adolescents provided complete data for analyses of socioeconomic stressors (parent-reported Family Affluence Scale III, adolescent self-reported and parent proxy and self-reported burden due to price increases). Mental health outcomes included depressive symptoms (PHQ-2), generalized anxiety (SCARED-GAD), and emotional/behavioral difficulties (SDQ). Associations were assessed using chi-square tests, Kendall’s tau correlations, and two-factor ANOVA models. Results: Elevated depressive symptoms were present in 10.7% of adolescents, emotional/behavioral difficulties in 13.9%, and anxiety symptoms in 27.9% of adolescents. Female adolescents consistently showed higher symptom levels in all domains. Self-reported financial burden was the strongest and most consistent correlate of mental health problems, demonstrating small-to-moderate positive correlations with depressive symptoms (τ = 0.20, p < 0.001), emotional/behavioral difficulties (τ = 0.14, p < 0.001), and anxiety (τ = 0.25, p < 0.001). Parent-reported burden showed weaker and less consistent associations, and the Family Affluence Scale III was not significantly related to any of the mental health outcomes. ANOVA models indicated that adolescents’ own perception of financial burden significantly predicted anxiety levels in both age groups (11–14 and 15–19 years), whereas discrepancies between adolescent and parent burden perceptions were particularly relevant among younger adolescents. Conclusions: In this affluent European region, subjective financial strain, especially adolescents’ perception of burden due to rising prices, is a stronger determinant of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and psychosocial difficulties than parental burden reports or structural affluence indicators. Adolescents, especially females, appear to be particularly vulnerable. These findings underscore the importance of addressing subjective financial stress in adolescent mental health and public health strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Adolescent Mental Health: Early Prevention and Intervention)
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23 pages, 1677 KB  
Article
The Impact of Psyching-Up and Cognitive Challenges on Cognitive Performance and Well-Being in Adolescent Swimmers: A Randomized Controlled Trial
by Yasmine Dhaouadi, Riadh Khalifa and Antonella Muscella
Children 2025, 12(12), 1591; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12121591 - 23 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1170
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The integration of psychological techniques, such as psyching-up, into sports training has been increasingly explored for its potential to enhance athletic performance and cognitive function, especially in young athletes. This study aimed to examine the effects of combining psyching-up techniques with cognitive [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The integration of psychological techniques, such as psyching-up, into sports training has been increasingly explored for its potential to enhance athletic performance and cognitive function, especially in young athletes. This study aimed to examine the effects of combining psyching-up techniques with cognitive challenges on psychophysiological responses and visuo-auditory attention in adolescent competitive swimmers. Methods: A total of 48 male competitive swimmers were randomly assigned to three groups: the Psyching-Up and Cognitive Group (PCG), the Cognitive Training Group (CGT), and a Control Group (CG). The intervention involved ten training sessions, where the PCG received psyching-up techniques, while both the PCG and CGT participated in cognitive training tasks. Key assessments included cognitive performance tests (Bells Test, Trail Making Test Parts A and B, Go/No-Go Auditory Task), heart rate (%HR max), blood lactate levels, perceived exertion (RPE), and mood state (Total Mood Disturbance). Results: The PCG showed significant improvements in cognitive performance, with fewer omissions in the Bells Test (p = 0.041) and faster reaction times in the Trail Making Test (Part A, p = 0.002; Part B, p = 0.001). In the Go/No-Go Auditory Task, the PCG exhibited faster reaction times and a higher hit rate (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in physiological responses, with %HR max and blood lactate levels showing stable trends across groups. However, the PCG reported significantly higher enjoyment (p < 0.001) and a reduction in Total Mood Disturbance (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Integrating psyching-up techniques with cognitive challenges positively impacts cognitive performance and psychological well-being in adolescent swimmers, without altering physiological responses. These findings highlight the potential of psychological interventions to enhance performance and overall athlete experience in youth sports training. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Adolescent Mental Health: Early Prevention and Intervention)
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Review

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25 pages, 1915 KB  
Review
Study of the Relationship Between Cyberbullying and Mental Health in Adolescents—A Systematic Review
by Jorge Casaña Mohedo, María Teresa Murillo-Llorente, Marcelino Perez-Bermejo, María Ester Legidos-García and Miriam Martínez-Peris
Children 2026, 13(3), 367; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13030367 - 4 Mar 2026
Viewed by 3449
Abstract
Background: Cyberbullying has emerged as a major public health concern with profound psychological repercussions on the adolescent population. The shift toward virtual communication has fundamentally altered interpersonal dynamics, removing the spatio-temporal barriers of aggression and creating new challenges for mental health. Methods: A [...] Read more.
Background: Cyberbullying has emerged as a major public health concern with profound psychological repercussions on the adolescent population. The shift toward virtual communication has fundamentally altered interpersonal dynamics, removing the spatio-temporal barriers of aggression and creating new challenges for mental health. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, including a comprehensive update executed in February 2026. Searches were performed across PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, and Scopus. The review included observational and experimental studies involving adolescents (aged 10–19 years) reporting clinical mental health outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. Results: Forty-two high-quality articles were selected. Key findings include the following: Prevalence: A median cyber-victimization prevalence of 19.1% was identified, although significant methodological heterogeneity exists with ranges between 2.1% and 88.0%. Clinical Impact: Victims exhibited significantly elevated rates of depression (90%) and anxiety (87%) compared to uninvolved peers. Suicidality: Victimization is a critical risk factor, with suicide attempts reported in 19.0% of victims, compared to 3.0% in aggressors. Vulnerable Groups: Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrated extreme vulnerability, with victimization rates between 64.1% and 68.9%. Additionally, females and LGBTQ+ youth showed a higher risk of symptom internalization and post-traumatic stress. The Role of the Bystander: Observers experienced fear, moral frustration, and helplessness, acting as either passive reinforcers or active upstanders depending on the school climate. Conclusions and Implications: Effective prevention requires a socio-ecological approach that transcends the classroom, integrating families, healthcare centers, and technological platforms. A transition toward modernized cyber-education is recommended, utilizing interactive tools and “serious games” to foster empathy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Adolescent Mental Health: Early Prevention and Intervention)
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