Title
Factors Predicting the Mental Health of Adolescents Attending a Faith-based Australian School System: A Multi-group Structural Equation Analysis
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-8-2019
Publication Details
This article was originally published as:
Craig, B. A., Morton, D. P., Morey, P. J., Kent, L. M., Beamish, P., Gane, B., … Price, K. R. (2019). Factors predicting the mental health of adolescents attending a faith-based Australian school system: A multi-group structural equation analysis. Journal of Mental Health, Prepublished 08 May 2019, doi:10.1080/09638237.2019.1608929
ISSN: 0963-8237
ANZSRC / FoR Code
111714 Mental Health
Avondale Research Centre
Lifestyle Research Centre
Reportable Items
C1
Abstract
Background: Adolescents attending Seventh-day Adventist schools (Adventist) in Australia tend to experience good health and exhibit better health behaviors than national norms, however few studies have investigated factors predicting their mental health.
Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the complex network of factors that predict the mental health status (MHS) of adolescents attending Adventist schools in Australia.
Methods: A survey instrument was used to collect data from 1527 secondary school students attending Adventist schools across Australia. Structural equation modeling was employed to examine concomitantly the direct and indirect effects of childhood experiences, present attitudes and selected health behaviors on MHS.
Results: Childhood family dynamics had the strongest association with MHS (βtotal = 0.33) followed by a sense of meaning and purpose (βtotal = 0.27), perceived social misfit status (βtotal = –0.19), and school academic performance (βtotal = 0.18). Multi-group analysis found significant pathway differences in the model for gender with regards to the association of meaning and purpose, physical activity and sleep quantity with MHS.
Conclusions: The outcomes of the study highlight the importance of early positive childhood family dynamics and the discovery of meaning and purpose during adolescence to promote positive mental health among adolescents.
Recommended Citation
Craig, B. A., Morton, D. P., Morey, P. J., Kent, L. M., Beamish, P., Gane, B., … Price, K. R. (2019). Factors predicting the mental health of adolescents attending a faith-based Australian school system: A multi-group structural equation analysis. Journal of Mental Health, Prepublished 08 May 2019, doi:10.1080/09638237.2019.1608929
Comments
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© 2019 Taylor and Francis
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