Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Healthcare Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Research and Survey on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: Second Edition

Print Special Issue Flyer
Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Related Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-being".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 20720

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Dr. Roberta Frontini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

1. Hospital Cruz Vermelha, 500-048 Lisboa, Portugal
2. Faculdade de Ciências Humanas, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 1649-023 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: paediatric obesity; motivation and barriers to the practice of physical activity and exercise; health psychology; mental health; quality of life
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Tânia Manuel Moço Morgado

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant

1. ACES Baixo Mondego, Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra, Av. Bissaya Barreto, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
2. Nursing School of Coimbra, Avenida Bissaya Barreto s/n, 3004-011 Coimbra, Portugal
3. School of Health Sciences of Polytechnic of Leiria, Campus 2, Morro do Lena, Alto do Vieiro Apartado 4137, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
Interests: mental health in childhood and adolescence; mental health literacy; mental health in school context; psychoeducational interventions in childhood and adolescence; family interventions; adolescence and anxiety; ethical issues and bioethics in health sciences

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In a period marked by global uncertainties, increased attention is needed for the mental health of our youth. We invite researchers from different areas to contribute to this second edition of this Special Issue. Awareness is crucial, with self-monitoring strategies playing a significant role. We seek to explore and understand different variables influencing the mental well-being of the next generation.

In this second edition, we welcome contributions that delve into the mental health of not only children, but also adolescents and college students. We aim to comprehensively investigate the various aspects impacting their well-being, recognizing the unique challenges faced by people at these ages. We encourage the use of multiple research methods, respondents and contexts to gain a holistic understanding of the mental health landscape. We anticipate insightful contributions that shed light on the multifaceted aspects of mental health of the youth and college student population.

Dr. Roberta Frontini
Guest Editor

Dr. Tânia Manuel Moço Morgado
Guest Editor Assistant

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-anonymized 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

mental health
children
adolescents
research
survey

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Research and Survey on Mental Health of Children and Adolescents in Healthcare (13 articles)

Published Papers (8 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

11 pages, 263 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Anxiety and Self-Control on Smartphone Addiction Among Children and Adolescents at Risk for Depression

by Miseon Kwak, Eunju Bae, Wonjae Choi and Myung Ho Lim

Healthcare 2026, 14(8), 990; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14080990 - 9 Apr 2026

Viewed by 689

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Research comprehensively analyzing the psychological characteristics and factors related to smartphone addiction in Korean children and adolescents at risk for depression remains scarce. This study utilized large-scale cohort data to examine the differences in psychological characteristics between an at-risk group for depression and a control group, and to identify the specific factors influencing smartphone addiction within the at-risk group. Methods: Data were obtained from the school-based cohort of internet and smartphone users conducted by the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), involving a total of 2294 children and adolescents (1009 in the at-risk for depression group and 1285 in the control group). Assessment tools included the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC/TAIC), Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Self-Control Scale, Aggression Questionnaire (K-AQ), School Bullying (SB) scale, and the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form (SAS-SV). Results: Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that the at-risk group exhibited significantly higher levels of anxiety, aggression, involvement in school bullying, and smartphone addiction compared to the control group, while showing lower levels of self-esteem and self-control. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis indicated that higher anxiety and lower self-control were significant predictors of increased smartphone addiction levels. Conclusions: These findings support the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model, which posits that emotional vulnerability and deficits in executive functions lead to addictive behaviors. The results suggest that reducing anxiety and enhancing self-control are critical factors in the prevention of smartphone addiction among children and adolescents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Survey on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: Second Edition)

8 pages, 223 KB

Open AccessArticle

Baseline Sleep Literacy, Habits, and Perceptions Among Primary School Children: Foundations for a MAIEC-Guided Community Intervention in Sleep and Mental Health

by Pedro Melo, Joana Bastos, Paula Moreira, Carlos Pinto, Vanessa Monteiro, Jóni Madureira, Bárbara Ferreira, Filipe Rodrigues-Pires, Teresa Martins and Ana Paula Cantante

Healthcare 2026, 14(3), 390; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14030390 - 3 Feb 2026

Viewed by 714

Abstract

Sleep plays a fundamental role in children’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development, and inadequate sleep hygiene is increasingly recognized as a modifiable risk factor for mental-health vulnerability. Background/Objectives: This article presents the child level baseline component of a broader quasi experimental study grounded in the Community Assessment, Intervention and Empowerment Model (MAIEC). The aim was to characterize Sleep Habits, sleep-hygiene knowledge, and sleep-related perceptions among third-grade children from two primary-school communities in northern Portugal, prior to the implementation of a MAIEC-based community intervention. Methods: Regarding the reporting, only the baseline child level assessment of the study presented in the manuscript, a structured questionnaire, integrating the Portuguese version of the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ PT) and questions about Sleep Habits and sleep-hygiene literacy were administered to 40 children. Three composite indices were computed: Sleep Literacy (SLI), Sleep Habits (SHI), and Sleep Symptoms and Perceptions (SSPI). Results: Baseline results revealed heterogeneous Sleep Habits and variable sleep-hygiene knowledge. Children in the experimental community demonstrated higher scores across all indices, with the difference in Sleep Habits (SHI) approaching statistical significance (p = 0.052) and moderate effect sizes observed overall. No sex-based differences were found. Conclusions: These findings identify modifiable behavioral and knowledge-related sleep determinants linked to emotional regulation and mental-health risk. This article reports baseline child-level data from a broader MAIEC-guided study, with the quasi-experimental intervention currently underway and community empowerment already assessed. Future work will present the evaluation of community processes. Overall, these baseline results provide a structured diagnostic foundation for a MAIEC-based community intervention aimed at promoting healthy sleep and strengthening mental-health resilience in primary-school settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Survey on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: Second Edition)

18 pages, 309 KB

Open AccessArticle

Individual-Level Cyber-Risk Indicators and Patterns of Cyberbullying Involvement Among Korean Adolescents

by Yoewon Yoon and Kyoung Yeon Moon

Healthcare 2026, 14(3), 376; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14030376 - 2 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1232

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Although cyberbullying among adolescents has been widely studied, relatively little attention has been paid to the overlapping roles through which cyberbullying is experienced. This study reconceptualizes cyberbullying involvement by classifying perpetration, victimization, and witnessing into eight mutually exclusive involvement types, enabling systematic and non-overlapping comparison of adolescents’ experiences. The study further examines how engagement in individual-level cyber-risk indicators is associated with different patterns of cyberbullying involvement. Methods: The study analyzed nationally representative data from the 2022 Cyberbullying Survey conducted by the Korea National Information Society Agency, including 9693 students from elementary, middle, and high schools across South Korea. Individual-level cyber-risk indicators were assessed through multiple dimensions, including risky online behaviors, intensity of digital activity, peer environments, and awareness of harmful online behaviors. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between individual-level cyber-risk indicators and the eight types of cyberbullying involvement. Results: Engagement in individual-level cyber-risk indicators was associated with increased odds of involvement in at least one cyberbullying type. Risky online behaviors and exposure to peers engaging in cyberbullying were linked to higher likelihood of both single and overlapping involvement patterns, whereas greater acceptance of harmful online behaviors was consistently associated with lower odds of victimization. Conclusions: These findings underscore cyberbullying as a relational and context-dependent phenomenon shaped by everyday digital practices and peer norms rather than isolated individual behavior. From a school social work perspective, the results support preventive, environment-focused interventions, including school-based media literacy education and institutionalized cyberbullying response systems, as promising strategies for reducing cyberbullying involvement among adolescents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Survey on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: Second Edition)

13 pages, 617 KB

Open AccessArticle

Psychometric Validation of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) in Portuguese Youth Transitioning to Higher Education

by Luís Loureiro, Ana Teresa Pedreiro, Rosa Simões, Inês Batista, Amorim Rosa and Tânia Morgado

Healthcare 2026, 14(1), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14010128 - 4 Jan 2026

Viewed by 3081

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The transition to higher education is a critical phase of human development that makes adolescents and young adults particularly vulnerable to mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and stress. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21) among first-year undergraduate nursing students. Methods: A methodological study was conducted with 225 undergraduate nursing students, aged 17 to 18 years, from a higher education institution in central Portugal. Data were collected using the Google Forms platform. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test three competing models: a single-factor model, a three-factor correlated model, and a second-order factor model. Reliability was assessed using composite reliability, and validity was evaluated using average variance extracted and the Fornell–Larcker criterion for discriminant validity. Results: Factor analyses revealed that the three-factor correlated model fit the data best overall, showing superior fit indices compared to the competing models (χ²/df = 2.37; CFI = 0.90; and RMSEA = 0.08; TLI = 0.88 and SRMR = 0.04). Composite reliability was high across all tested models, ranging from 0.84 to 0.94. The analysis of score distributions by category revealed a high prevalence of severe or extremely severe symptoms of anxiety, stress, and, to a lesser extent, depression. A statistically significant association was found between higher symptom severity and prior familiarity with mental illness. Conclusions: The DASS-21 proved to be a valid and reliable instrument for assessing psychological distress in higher education students. These findings underscore the urgent need for mental health programs in higher education institutions that focus on early detection and intervention, particularly for students initiating their studies and those with a history of mental health problems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Survey on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 447 KB

Open AccessArticle

Associations of Body Mass Index and Lifestyle Factors with Suicidal Ideation, Planning, and Attempts Among Korean Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Haitao Wang and Kyung-O Kim

Healthcare 2025, 13(12), 1470; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121470 - 18 Jun 2025

Viewed by 1815

Abstract

Background: Unhealthy lifestyles constitute significant risk factors for adolescent suicide, and their detrimental effects may persist from adolescence into adulthood. This research study sought to examine how Body Mass Index (BMI), alongside various lifestyle behaviors among teenagers in Korea, correlates with suicidal thoughts, the formulation of suicide plans, and actual suicide attempts. Methods: The research examined unprocessed information collected during the 2022 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS), which was administered by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Lifestyle factors associated with suicidal behavior were selected as independent variables. The sample was stratified according to BMI for further analysis. Logistic regression models were applied to assess the association between lifestyle factors and the risk of adolescent suicide. Results: The analysis identified significant correlations between unhealthy dietary patterns, hazardous drinking behavior, smoking, and a sleep duration of less than 5 h, all of which were associated with a heightened suicide risk among adolescents. Notably, underweight adolescents who had a sleep duration of less than 5 h demonstrated a markedly elevated risk of suicidal ideation (OR = 2.391, 95% CI [1.035–5.525]). Among overweight adolescents, frequent coffee consumption was significantly associated with both suicidal planning (OR = 1.850, 95% CI [1.133–3.020]) and suicide attempts (OR = 1.958, 95% CI [1.024–3.742]). Importantly, hazardous drinking behavior was strongly associated with suicide attempts (OR = 2.277, 95% CI [1.132–4.580]). Non-smoking behavior exhibited a significant relationship with a decreased likelihood of suicidal ideation (OR = 0.706, 95% CI [0.507–0.983]) and suicidal planning (OR = 0.528, 95% CI [0.299–0.930]). Furthermore, among obese adolescents, non-smoking behavior significantly decreased the risk of suicidal ideation compared to smoking (OR = 0.514, 95% CI [0.297–0.887]). Conclusions: The study revealed that the combined impact of unhealthy behaviors—smoking, eating an unhealthy breakfast, sleeping for less than 5 h, and hazardous drinking behavior—significantly affect suicide-related behaviors in adolescents. The interaction between BMI and lifestyle factors is a critical determinant of these behaviors. Specifically, sleep health exerts a substantial influence on suicide-related behaviors in underweight adolescents, while smoking strongly correlates with suicidal behaviors in overweight and obese adolescents. Targeted attention to the interplay of smoking, diet, sleep, and alcohol consumption with BMI is crucial for the early detection and prevention of adolescent suicide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Survey on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 251 KB

Open AccessArticle

Levels of Hope, Stigma, Psychological Vulnerability, and Positive Mental Health: A Descriptive Study of Eighth- and Ninth-Grade Adolescents

by Maria José Carvalho Nogueira and Delfina Teixeira

Healthcare 2025, 13(11), 1257; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111257 - 26 May 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3173

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to characterize adolescents’ levels of hope, stigma, psychological vulnerability, and positive mental health in a school context. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in a non-probabilistic sample of 189 adolescents from eighth–ninth grade in 2021. During the citizenship discipline, adolescents filled out an online self-completion questionnaire for data collection, containing all measurement instruments: Hope Thermometer, Attribution Questionnaire, Psychological Vulnerability Scale, and Positive Mental Health Questionnaire. Results: The majority were men (55.1%) with a mean age of 14 years. Overall, adolescents have acceptable levels of hope (M = 8; SD = 2.58), a high level of stigma (M = 25.6; SD = 5.23), satisfactory positive mental health (M = 118.3; SD = 14.8), and moderate psychological vulnerability (M = 15.2; SD = 6.4). Conclusions: Findings support educational practices and policies that target personalized intervention to promote and improve hope and positive mental health in adolescents. These data are relevant to getting ahead and designing more positive mental health behavior programs to reinforce adolescents’ modifiable healthy aspects and positive mindsets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Survey on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: Second Edition)

15 pages, 587 KB

Open AccessArticle

Suicidal Ideation and Substance Use Among Middle and High School Students in Morocco

by Abdelmounaim Baslam, Hajar Azraida, Samia Boussaa and Abderrahman Chait

Healthcare 2025, 13(10), 1178; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101178 - 19 May 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2705

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Suicide is a major public health concern with severe consequences for individuals, families, and communities. Each year, approximately 800,000 individuals die by suicide, equating to one suicide-related death every 40 s. This study aims to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation and psychoactive substance use among middle and high school students in Morocco and to examine the relationship between suicidal ideation, substance use, depression, and early trauma. Methods: From January to June 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted in the Marrakech region of central Morocco among middle and high school students selected using stratified cluster random sampling. Data were collected through anonymous self-administered questionnaires. The Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS) was used to assess the frequency of suicidal ideation among participants. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria were applied for substance use and depression assessment, while early trauma was evaluated using the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire. Results: A total of 791 students participated in the study. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 16.66%, while 25% of students reported current psychoactive substance use. Significant positive correlations were found between suicidal ideation and early trauma (r = 0.12; p < 0.004), depression (r = 0.52; p < 0.001), and substance use (r = 0.12; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of considering multiple risk factors in suicide assessment and prevention. The interplay between these factors often exhibits bidirectional and significant associations. Implementing early screening, management, and treatment strategies for individuals exhibiting suicidal ideation and mental health disorders is crucial to reducing the burden of suicide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Survey on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 717 KB

Open AccessArticle

Path to Suicidality in Korean Adolescents: Mediating Role of Self-Esteem, Somatic Symptoms, and Self-Harm Amid Depressive Symptoms

by Jiyeon Kim and Myongsun Cho

Healthcare 2024, 12(16), 1662; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12161662 - 20 Aug 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5569

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidality among community-dwelling adolescents aged 10–18 years, examining whether self-esteem, somatic symptoms, and self-harm mediate this relationship. Utilizing a pre-existing dataset from a nationwide adolescent mental health survey conducted in Korea in 2021, data were collected using several standardized self-administered instruments: the Korean version of Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale, Korean Children’s Somatization Inventory, Korean version of the Self-Harm Inventory, Mental Health Screening for Depressive Disorders, and Mental Health Screening for Suicide Risk. A path model was constructed and validated, followed by path analysis to assess the effects. Data from 6689 adolescents, including 5937 students and 752 out-of-school adolescents, revealed that 18.7% were in the suicidality group, 11.8% experienced depressive symptoms, 57.9% exhibited somatic symptoms, and 27.4% engaged in self-harm. Depressive symptoms had a positive direct effect on suicidality (β = 0.166, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval = 0.159–0.172). Bootstrapping tests showed a statistically significant indirect effect of self-esteem, somatic symptoms, and self-harm on the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidality (β = 0.021, 95% confidence interval = 0.013–0.029). Our findings suggest that self-esteem, somatic symptoms, and self-harm mediate the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidality, and comprehensive mental health management strategies addressing these factors are recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Survey on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: Second Edition)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Research and Survey on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: Second Edition

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI