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Mental well-being trends and school-based protective factors among adolescents in British Columbia (2015–2022): A population-based study

Author

Listed:
  • Oberle, Eva
  • Ji, Xuejun Ryan
  • Molyneux, Tonje
  • Guhn, Martin
  • Forer, Barry
  • Thomson, Kimberly
  • Alkawaja, Maram
  • Kassan, Anusha
  • Gadermann, Anne

Abstract

Adolescent mental well-being has declined in the past decade. Much research relies on administrative data and population-based research incorporating youth voices and exploring protective factors for mental well-being is scarce. This study examined trends in adolescent mental well-being from 2015 to 2022 in British Columbia (BC), Canada. We examined sex differences in the trends, the role of protective factors in school, and the relative importance of protective factors for mental well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Oberle, Eva & Ji, Xuejun Ryan & Molyneux, Tonje & Guhn, Martin & Forer, Barry & Thomson, Kimberly & Alkawaja, Maram & Kassan, Anusha & Gadermann, Anne, 2025. "Mental well-being trends and school-based protective factors among adolescents in British Columbia (2015–2022): A population-based study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 380(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:380:y:2025:i:c:s0277953625005313
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118201
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shensa, Ariel & Escobar-Viera, César G. & Sidani, Jaime E. & Bowman, Nicholas D. & Marshal, Michael P. & Primack, Brian A., 2017. "Problematic social media use and depressive symptoms among U.S. young adults: A nationally-representative study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 150-157.
    2. Högberg, Björn & Strandh, Mattias & Hagquist, Curt, 2020. "Gender and secular trends in adolescent mental health over 24 years – The role of school-related stress," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    3. Barry Forer & Anita Minh & Jennifer Enns & Simon Webb & Eric Duku & Marni Brownell & Nazeem Muhajarine & Magdalena Janus & Martin Guhn, 2020. "A Canadian Neighbourhood Index for Socioeconomic Status Associated with Early Child Development," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(4), pages 1133-1154, August.
    4. Anne Gadermann & Kimberly Schonert-Reichl & Bruno Zumbo, 2010. "Investigating Validity Evidence of the Satisfaction with Life Scale Adapted for Children," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 96(2), pages 229-247, April.
    5. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl & Martin Guhn & Anne Gadermann & Shelley Hymel & Lina Sweiss & Clyde Hertzman, 2013. "Development and Validation of the Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI): Assessing Children’s Well-Being and Assets across Multiple Contexts," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 114(2), pages 345-369, November.
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