Research from the University of the Sunshine Coast suggests that promoting young people's mental health requires attention to a wider array of factors beyond just sleep, diet, and exercise. The study, conducted by researchers from UniSC's Thompson Institute, indicates that adolescents with a greater number of protective lifestyle elements tend to report better well-being and lower psychological distress over time. The findings are published in the Journal of Adolescence.
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The study followed adolescents aged 12 to 17 over multiple years to assess how various lifestyle behaviors and psychosocial factors influenced their mental health. Co-lead author Dr. Taliah Prince emphasized the need to consider several dimensions of adolescents' lives in well-being support. She stated, "While sleep, diet, and exercise are important, our research highlights a broader picture to consider."
The researchers also explored factors like social connectedness and mindfulness, noting that adolescents who felt more connected to others and engaged in daily life exhibited better mental health outcomes. The results indicated that young people with more protective factors were likely to experience positive well-being and decreased psychological distress in follow-up assessments, even when controlling for their prior mental health.
The study utilized data from the Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study (LABS), which monitored the same group of teenagers for up to five years, collecting information on brain imaging, cognition, mental health symptoms, and lifestyle behaviors. The researchers observed that healthy habits and psychosocial strengths often occurred together; adolescents protected in one area were frequently protected in others as well.
Senior author and professor of youth mental health and neurobiology Daniel Hermens stated that the findings provide significant insights into supporting adolescent mental health during a critical developmental phase. "Adolescence is a time of significant brain development and challenge, making it essential to understand the factors associated with positive well-being for effective mental health promotion and prevention strategies during these years," Hermens said.