Supporting young people’s mental health may require a broader focus than the traditional ‘big three’ healthy habits of sleep, nutrition and physical activity, according to new University of the Sunshine Coast research.
The study, led by researchers from UniSC’s Thompson Institute, found that adolescents with a greater number of protective lifestyle factors were more likely to report positive wellbeing and lower psychological distress over time.
The research followed adolescents aged 12-17 across multiple years, examining how a range of lifestyle behaviours and psychosocial factors impacted future wellbeing.
Co-lead author and youth mental health researcher Dr Taliah Prince said the findings highlighted the importance of considering multiple aspects of adolescent lives when supporting their wellbeing.
“We often hear about the importance of sleep, diet and exercise, and while these are important, our research suggests there’s a bigger picture to consider,” Dr Prince said.
“Alongside these healthy habits, we also looked at social connectedness and mindfulness, including how connected young people feel to others and how present and engaged they are in daily life.
“What stood out was that young people with a greater number of protective factors were more likely to report positive wellbeing and lower psychological distress at later assessments, even after we accounted for their previous mental health.”
UniSC Thompson Institute researcher Dr Taliah Prince with a participant.
The study drew on data from the Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study (LABS), which tracked the same group of teens for up to five years, regularly recording brain imaging, cognition, mental health symptoms and lifestyle behaviours.
Researchers found that healthy behaviours and psychosocial strengths tended to cluster, with adolescents who were protected in one area often more likely to be protected in others.
Senior author and Professor of Youth Mental Health and Neurobiology Daniel Hermens said findings offered valuable insight into how to support adolescent mental health.
“Adolescence is a period of remarkable brain development, but it’s also when many challenges first emerge, making it a critical window for supporting lifelong mental health,” Professor Hermens said.
“Understanding the factors associated with positive wellbeing can help inform how we approach mental health promotion and prevention during these important years.”
The full research is published in the Journal of Adolescence
