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Mental Health and Well-Being among Adolescents: Current Evidence and Future...
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Mental Health and Well-Being among Adolescents: Current Evidence and Future Directions

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 7021

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lawrence Matthew Scheier

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. LARS Research Institute, Inc., Sun City, AZ, USA
2. Prevention Strategies, Greensboro, NC, USA
Interests: adolescent development; health promotion; quantitative methodology; longitudinal data; structural equation modeling; program evaluation
Dr. Alice Masini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont Amedeo Avogadro, 28100 Novara, Italy
Interests: lifestyle medicine, health promotion and prevention interventions; physical activity and nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Adolescence is a unique lifespan stage where individuals confront numerous developmental challenges. One of the hallmark features of adolescent development is the ability to manage one’s emotions and develop a favorable, if not bright, outlook for the future. Developing a healthy mindset with a crystallized identity paves the way for a fruitful and rewarding future, filled with hope, aspiration and confidence that life will “work out.” Unfortunately, for many adolescents, the cliché of “storm and stress” is accurate, living lives rife with seemingly insurmountable challenges, such as dramatic body image changes, the discovery of a sexual and gender identity, rapid cognitive growth and challenging social experiences. For many youths, the depth of these challenges can induce anxiety or depression and present an overriding sense that the future is bleak with minimal hope for happiness. The inability to navigate life and employ appropriate coping skills to mitigate stress can have untold negative effects on adult role socialization. The current Special Issue on adolescent mental health and well-being addresses the myriad of challenges that youth face and how this can undermine their transition into adulthood. Articles in the Special Issue can address any number of developmental challenges, including those affecting cognitive, social, emotional, physical and emotional growth. The editors particularly welcome studies involving prospective, longitudinal designs able to tease apart the multiple forces affecting development, including those that examine the family, school, peers, community and the environment.

Dr. Lawrence Matthew Scheier
Dr. Alice Masini
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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

  • adolescence
  • mental health
  • well-being
  • developmental challenges
  • stress
  • quality of life
  • emotional growth
  • self-efficacy

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 278 KiB  
Article
Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Due to Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Cross-Sectional Trial in Adolescents
by Aikaterini Marini, Ignatia Farmakopoulou, Ioannis Dritsas and Evgenia Gkintoni
Healthcare 2024, 12(15), 1515; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12151515 - 30 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2403
Abstract
Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are linked to the development of anxiety in adolescence. According to recent studies, the COVID-19 pandemic represents a novel ACE that is associated with anxiety among adolescents. This study investigates the relationship between ACEs, COVID-19, and anxiety in [...] Read more.
Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are linked to the development of anxiety in adolescence. According to recent studies, the COVID-19 pandemic represents a novel ACE that is associated with anxiety among adolescents. This study investigates the relationship between ACEs, COVID-19, and anxiety in adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a community sample of 248 boys and girls ages 12 to 15 years (mean = 13.50 years) from five high schools in Eastern Attica. A total of four questionnaires were used: (1) Demographic Questionnaire, (2) State–Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children—STAIC, (3) Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale, and (4) COVID-19 Impact Scale. Results: The results demonstrated a moderate association between the total number of ACEs and anxiety (trait and state) in adolescence (trait anxiety: ρ = 0.37, p < 0.001; state anxiety: ρ = 0.29, p < 0.001). Girls scored significantly higher than boys on both trait anxiety (U = 4353, p < 0.001; mean difference = 5.5) and state anxiety (U = 5822.5, p = 0.014; mean difference = 2). The number of ACEs was found to be significantly related to the impact of COVID-19 (β = 0.025, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the significant link between ACEs and increased anxiety in adolescents, which is further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings indicate that girls are more affected than boys. These results emphasize the need for targeted mental health interventions to enhance coping mechanisms, reduce stress, and address anxiety in adolescents, particularly during global crises like the pandemic. Developing such programs is essential for supporting the mental well-being of youth facing multiple stressors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Well-Being among Adolescents: Current Evidence and Future Directions)
17 pages, 910 KiB  
Article
Perceived Racial Discrimination, Psychological Distress, and Suicidal Behavior in Adolescence: Secondary Analysis of Cross-Sectional Data from a Statewide Youth Survey
by Meredith Cahill, Robert Illback and Nicholas Peiper
Healthcare 2024, 12(10), 1011; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12101011 - 14 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1918
Abstract
Developmental, clinical, and epidemiological research have demonstrated the salience of perceived racial discrimination (PRD) as a contributor to negative mental health outcomes in adolescence. This article summarizes secondary analyses of cross-sectional data from a large-scale youth survey within a predominantly rural state, to [...] Read more.
Developmental, clinical, and epidemiological research have demonstrated the salience of perceived racial discrimination (PRD) as a contributor to negative mental health outcomes in adolescence. This article summarizes secondary analyses of cross-sectional data from a large-scale youth survey within a predominantly rural state, to estimate the prevalence and strength of the association between PRD and serious psychological distress (SPD), suicidal ideation, and prior suicidal attempts. Data from 93,812 students enrolled in 6th, 8th, 10th, or 12th grade within 129 school districts across Kentucky were examined, to determine prevalence rates for subgroups within the cohort. Logistic regression analyses assessed the differences and established comparative strength of the association among these variables for racial/ethnic subgroups. PRD was self-reported at high rates across several demographic subgroups and was most evident among Black (24.5%) and Asian (22.1%) students. Multiracial students experienced the highest rates of both SPD and suicidality (ideation and prior attempt). Both for the entire cohort and for each racial/ethnic subgroup, PRD was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of negative mental health outcomes, although the strength of these associations varied across the subgroups and developmental levels. The implications for early intervention and prevention are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Well-Being among Adolescents: Current Evidence and Future Directions)
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19 pages, 605 KiB  
Article
Association of Socioeconomic Factors and Physical Activity with Health-Related Quality of Life in Italian Middle School Children: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study
by Francesco Sanmarchi, Lawrence M. Scheier, Laura Dallolio, Matteo Ricci, Giulia Longo, Andrea Ceciliani and Alice Masini
Healthcare 2023, 11(14), 2092; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11142092 - 22 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1470
Abstract
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) provides a broad assessment of an individual’s well-being and can serve as a good prognosticator of life’s outcomes later for children and adolescents. Understanding the factors associated with HRQoL is crucial for promoting better health and life satisfaction. [...] Read more.
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) provides a broad assessment of an individual’s well-being and can serve as a good prognosticator of life’s outcomes later for children and adolescents. Understanding the factors associated with HRQoL is crucial for promoting better health and life satisfaction. This study investigated the cross-sectional association of socioeconomic status, cardio fitness, and physical activity levels with HRQoL in 224 Italian early adolescents attending secondary school in the Emilia-Romagna region located in Northern Italy. In a multivariate path regression model, younger students and females reported a higher quality of life (β = −0.139, p = 0.015, 95% CI: −0.254–−0.023 and β = 0.142, p = 0.019, 95% CI: 0.011–0.273, respectively). Having both parents employed and having a higher familiar educational status were also associated with a higher quality of life (β = 0.142, p = 0.013, 95% CI 0.027–0.257 and β = 0.133, p = 0.017, 95% CI 0.022–0.244, respectively). Greater engagement in routine physical activity levels from moderate to vigorous intensity was positively associated with quality of life (β = 0.429, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.304–0.554). Endurance (speed) was positively associated with quality of life (β = 0.221, p = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.087–0.355), and students with longer times on the shuttle run reported less quality of life (β = −0.207, p = 0.002, 95% CI: −0.337–−0.077). These relations remained intact even when controlling for socioeconomic factors. The current findings reinforce the importance of promoting regular physical activity among younger children and also addressing socioeconomic status disparities to improve children’s well-being. Future studies may want to consider expanding the array of measures used to assess physical activity and include additional measures assessing nutrition, cultural factors, and family functioning, all of which can influence a child’s willingness to engage in physical activity and their well-being. The emphasis on fitness and physical activity and their contribution to a child’s well-being should be the prime focus for stakeholders who work in the education, public health, and health policy sectors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Well-Being among Adolescents: Current Evidence and Future Directions)
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