scholarly journals Positive Youth Development and Mental Well-Being in Late Adolescence: The Role of Body Appreciation. Findings From a Prospective Study in Norway

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helga Bjørnøy Urke ◽  
Ingrid Holsen ◽  
Torill Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Youth Development ◽  
Positive Youth Development ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Appreciation ◽  
Healthy Development ◽  
Cluster Randomized ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Mental Well Being

Although a vulnerable period, adolescence is a time of great potential for healthy development. Understanding factors that contribute to mental well-being in this period is of great importance to facilitate for healthy development. During the adolescence period the body goes through rapid and considerable changes, and the focus on body appearance and perfection is substantial at societal, media, and peer level. In this study, we investigated the association between dimensions characterizing positive youth development, and mental well-being among Norwegian adolescents 16–17 years 1 year later, and whether this association was mediated by degree of body appreciation. We further tested whether the indirect and direct paths between positive youth development dimensions and mental well-being were moderated by gender. We used data from the first and second follow-up of the control arm of the COMPLETE study, a cluster randomized controlled trial in upper secondary schools in Norway. Findings showed that positive youth development in grade 1, as measured by both a combined global PYD and the dimensions competence, and connection were significantly associated with mental well-being in grade 2 in models adjusted for mental well-being in grade 1, gender and perceived family affluence. Also, body appreciation in grade 1 significantly predicted mental well-being in grade 2 in models including each of global PYD, competence, connection, character, and caring dimensions. Contrary to our hypothesis, no mediating effects of body appreciation were observed, and no moderation of indirect effects by gender were observed.

The Positive Perspective on Youth Development

2017 ◽  
pp. 543-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret L. Kern ◽  
Nansook Park ◽  
Daniel Romer
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Positive Youth Development ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive Development ◽  
Positive Education ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Positive Perspective ◽  
Mental Well Being

This chapter covers positive youth development, positive psychology, and positive education, which suggest that mental health is more than the absence of mental illness and involves proactively supporting the mental well-being of young people. The assets of youth that protect against problems and allow young people to do well include both individual psychological characteristics and aspects of their social context. Positive approaches aim to maximize the potential of young people by encouraging both personal and environmental assets. Research findings over the past three decades have brought empirical support for key premises of positive youth development and have provided important insights into individual and contextual factors that underlie youth thriving. Future studies will continue to refine measures, improve interventions, and use empirical findings to understand and influence the processes that give rise to positive development.

scholarly journals Economics of mental well-being: a prospective study estimating associated health care costs and sickness benefit transfers in Denmark

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziggi Ivan Santini ◽  
Hannah Becher ◽  
Maja Bæksgaard Jørgensen ◽  
Michael Davidsen ◽  
Line Nielsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Healthcare Costs ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Government Expenditure ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Sickness Benefit ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Mental Well Being

Abstract Background Previous literature has examined the societal costs of mental illness, but few studies have estimated the costs associated with mental well-being. In this study, a prospective analysis was conducted on Danish data to determine 1) the association between mental well-being (measured in 2016) and government expenditure in 2017, specifially healthcare costs and sickness benefit transfers. Methods Data stem from a Danish population-based survey of 3,508 adults (aged 16 + years) in 2016, which was linked to Danish registry data. A validated scale (WEMWBS) was used for the assessment of mental well-being. Costs are expressed in USD PPP. A two-part model was applied to predict costs in 2017, adjusting for sociodemographics, health status (including psychiatric morbidity and health behaviour), as well as costs in the previous year (2016). Results Each point increase in mental well-being (measured in 2016) was associated with lower healthcare costs ($− 42.5, 95% CI = $− 78.7, $− 6.3) and lower costs in terms of sickness benefit transfers ($− 23.1, 95% CI = $− 41.9, $− 4.3) per person in 2017. Conclusions Estimated reductions in costs related to mental well-being add to what is already known about potential savings related to the prevention of mental illness. It does so by illustrating the savings that could be made by moving from lower to higher levels of mental well-being both within and beyond the clinical range. Our estimates pertain to costs associated with those health-related outcomes that were included in the study, but excluding other social and economic outcomes and benefits. They cover immediate cost estimates (costs generated the year following mental well-being measurement) and not those that could follow improved mental well-being over the longer term. They may therefore be considered conservative from a societal perspective. Population approaches to mental health promotion are necessary, not only to potentiate disease prevention strategies, but also to reduce costs related to lower levels of mental well-being in the non-mental illness population. Our results suggest that useful reductions in both health care resource use and costs, as well as in costs due to sick leave from the workplace, could be achieved from investment in mental well-being promotion within a year.

scholarly journals Psychological Morbidity among University Students in Hong Kong (2014–2018): Psychometric Properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) and Related Correlates

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8305
Author(s):  
Xiang Li ◽  
Daniel T. L. Shek ◽  
Esther Y. W. Shek
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
University Students ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Positive Youth Development ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Morbidity

Although mental health problems among Hong Kong university students are serious, there is a lack of studies examining the psychometric properties of related assessment scales and correlates. This study attempted to validate the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) in Hong Kong university students and examine the demographic (gender), time (cohort), and well-being correlates (positive youth development attributes and life satisfaction) of psychological morbidity. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the factor structure of the DASS (n = 6704). Gender and cohort invariance were further established using a multigroup CFA. The three-factor model of the DASS showed a superior fit and factorial invariance across gender and five different cohorts. Regarding gender and cohort correlates of psychological morbidity, males exhibited more depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms than their female counterparts. The intensity of psychological distress also escalated after the Umbrella Movement in 2014. Furthermore, well-being measures (positive youth development and life satisfaction) were negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. In short, the Chinese DASS demonstrated good psychometric properties. This study also showed that gender, cohort (occurrence of political events), and well-being were associated with psychological morbidity indexed by the DASS measures.

Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on fatigue and well-being in women with quiescent systemic lupus erythematosus: a randomised controlled trial

2009 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1144-1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Hartkamp ◽  
R Geenen ◽  
G L R Godaert ◽  
M Bijl ◽  
J W J Bijlsma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Systemic Lupus ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Female Patients ◽  
General Fatigue ◽  
Mental Well Being

ObjectiveDehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to improve fatigue and reduced well-being. Both are major problems in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), even with quiescent disease. Low serum DHEA levels are common in SLE. The present work investigates the effects of DHEA administration on fatigue, well-being and functioning in women with inactive SLE.MethodsIn a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study, 60 female patients with inactive SLE received 200 mg oral DHEA or placebo. Primary outcome measures were general fatigue, depressive mood, mental well-being and physical functioning. Assessments were made before treatment, after 3, 6 and 12 months on medication, and 6 months after cessation of treatment.ResultsPatients from the DHEA and placebo group improved on general fatigue (p<0.001) and mental well-being (p=0.04). There was no differential effect of DHEA. The belief that DHEA had been used was a stronger predictor for improvement of general fatigue than the actual use of DHEA (p=0.04).ConclusionsThe trial does not indicate an effect of daily 200 mg oral DHEA on fatigue and well-being, and therefore DHEA treatment is not recommended in unselected female patients with quiescent SLE.Clinical Trials Registration Number NCT00391924

scholarly journals EXPLORING DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS IN UGANDAN YOUTH

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (4.1) ◽  
pp. 500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Drescher ◽  
Eu Gene Chin ◽  
Laura R Johnson ◽  
Julie S Johnson-Pynn
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Positive Youth Development ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Developmental Assets ◽  
Civil Conflict ◽  
Cultural Contexts ◽  
Healthy Development ◽  
Psychometric Measures ◽  
Preliminary Support

Ugandan youth face a number of threats to their healthy development including poverty, high rates of disease, civil conflict, and environmental degradation. Cultivating developmental competencies is critical, not only for youth, but also for the future of Ugandan communities and civil society. In this article, we highlight contextual challenges facing Ugandan youth, report exploratory results on “standard” measures of developmental assets, and discuss the utility of a positive youth development (PYD) framework in Uganda. Despite difficult circumstances, our results indicated high levels of internal and external assets as assessed with the Developmental Assets Profile (DAP). The DAP demonstrated acceptable internal consistencies and was correlated with two other measures of youth assets, self-efficacy, and civic action. Although researchers should proceed with caution when using psychometric measures in new cultural contexts, our results provide preliminary support for the use of the DAP and a PYD framework for advancing adolescent research and programming in Uganda.

Youth Social Entrepreneurship as Youth Development for All Youth

Making Change ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 37-48
Author(s):  
Tina P. Kruse
Keyword(s):  
Youth Development ◽  
Positive Youth Development ◽  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Developmental Psychology ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Development Theory ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Relational Development ◽  
Healthy Development ◽  
Adolescent Brain Development

This chapter reviews the universal elements of positive youth development; that is, explicating the basic foundations of healthy development that are important for all youth, regardless of context or background. Developmental psychology serves as a primary source for the perspectives presented here. Among the key components of this discussion are the principles of the field, a review of relational development theory, and an overview of adolescent brain development. Specific frameworks are included, such as the Five C’s of youth development, social-emotional learning (SEL), and youth interests (sparks). While all of these components are influenced by the broader contexts and environments of the youth, the set of ideas included in this chapter applies to a somewhat decontextualized form of youth development theory as applied to the promise of youth social entrepreneurship.

How a Positive Youth Development Framework Can Improve Lives of Excluded People

2021 ◽  
pp. 175-196
Author(s):  
Marija Bingulac
Keyword(s):  
Youth Development ◽  
Positive Youth Development ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Compulsory Education ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
Development Framework ◽  
Original Survey ◽  
Educational Inclusion

Roma continue to face numerous challenges in Serbia, including disproportionately high rates of illiteracy and school dropout, poverty, unemployment, and discrimination. The Serbian government has pursued education policies relevant for Romani children and youth, but implementation efforts have not resulted in educational inclusion nor in raising the economic situation of the Roma citizens. This chapter presents participatory evaluation results of an alternative educational program in Belgrade, Serbia, that uses the positive youth development (PYD) framework to assist marginalized Roma youth to enroll in the mainstream educational system. This mixed-method study consisted of in-depth interviews with 80 respondents and an empirical analysis of an original survey of financial well-being used to assess the overall impact of the program. Perhaps most importantly, the voices of the real experts on poverty and educational needs—the Romani youth and their families who have experienced these realities—personally are brought forth. One important finding highlights the need for both education and labor market policies to be designed and implemented in concert with each other and taking into account the need of Roma youth to contribute to families’ total income. Mainstream compulsory education can inadvertently hurt the Roma family who, with no expectations of long-term returns on educational attainment, view their son’s or daughter’s time in school as a loss of essential family income. These realities—a policy mismatch between what Roma need and government’s inclusion efforts—are explored in depth in this chapter.

scholarly journals UPRIGHT, a resilience-based intervention to promote mental well-being in schools: study rationale and methodology for a European randomized controlled trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlota Las Hayas ◽  
◽  
Irantzu Izco-Basurko ◽  
Ane Fullaondo ◽  
Silvia Gabrielli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Simulation Modelling ◽  
European Regions ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Mental Well Being

Abstract Background Adolescence is crucial period for laying the foundations for healthy development and mental well-being. The increasing prevalence of mental disorders amongst adolescents makes promotion of mental well-being and prevention interventions at schools important. UPRIGHT (Universal Preventive Resilience Intervention Globally implemented in schools to improve and promote mental Health for Teenagers) is designed as a whole school approach (school community, students and families) to promote a culture of mental well-being and prevent mental disorders by enhancing resilience capacities. The present article aims at describing the rationale, conceptual framework, as well as methodology of implementation and evaluation of the UPRIGHT intervention. Methods UPRIGHT project is a research and innovation project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement No. 754919 (Duration: 48 months). The theoretical framework has been developed by an innovative and multidisciplinary approach using a co-creation process inside the UPRIGHT Consortium (involving seven institutions from Spain, Italy, Poland, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland). Resulted is the UPRIGHT programme with 18 skills related to 4 components: Mindfulness, Coping, Efficacy and Social and Emotional Learning. Among the five Pan-European regions, 34 schools have been currently involved (17 control; 17 intervention) and around 6000 adolescents and their families are foreseen to participate along a 3-year period of evaluation. Effectiveness of the intervention will be evaluated as a randomized controlled trial including quantitative and qualitative analysis in the five Pan-European regions representative of the cultural and socioeconomic diversity. The cost-effectiveness assessment will be performed by simulation modelling methods. Discussion We expect a short- to medium-term improvement of mental well-being in adolescents by enhancing resilience capacities. The study may provide robust evidence on intrapersonal, familiar and social environmental resilience factors promoting positive mental well-being. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03951376. Registered 15 May 2019.

scholarly journals Development and Evaluation of a Positive Youth Development Course for University Students in Hong Kong

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. L. Shek ◽  
Rachel C. F. Sun ◽  
Y. H. Chui ◽  
S. W. Lit ◽  
Walter W. Yuen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
University Students ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Positive Youth Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Outcome Evaluation ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Holistic Development ◽  
Developmental Problems ◽  
Academic Year

With higher education, university graduates are important elements of the labor force in knowledge-based economies. With reference to the mental health and developmental problems in university students, there is a need to review university’s role in nurturing holistic development of students. Based on the positive youth development approach, it is argued that promoting intrapersonal competencies is an important strategy to facilitate holistic development of young people in Hong Kong. In The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, a course entitled Tomorrow’s Leader focusing on positive youth development constructs to promote student well-being will be offered on a compulsory basis starting from 2012/13 academic year under the new undergraduate curriculum structure. The proposed course was piloted in 2010/11 school year. Different evaluation strategies, including objective outcome evaluation, subjective outcome evaluation, process evaluation, and qualitative evaluation, are being carried out to evaluate the developed course. Preliminary evaluation findings based on the piloting experience in 2010/11 academic year are presented in this paper.

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