Picture this: We all know that childhood isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Why do some teens grow up strong, while others face challenges?  The Dual-Factor Model (DFM) of mental health has been gaining traction. It looks at both our highs ( like feeling good about life) and lows (like feeling bummed out or anxious).  Researchers wondered: How does this model change over time in teens? .  Also, what about the yucky stuff, like childhood mistreatment? How does that affect a teen’s mental health? Lots of studies have been done but this one took a longitudinal approach.

        Scientists took a deep dive into the world of adolescents. Younger people are a great group to study because they’re still growing up and learning to handle life’s ups and downs.  They studied a bunch of kids and figured out who was thriving, coasting, or struggling. Let's break it down. Teens who were thriving had pretty stable mental health. The coasting group did okay, but not as good as the thriving teens. The struggling group, well, they had the most trouble.

        Physical neglect can affect how teens feel about themselves. Teens who went through this type of a hard time were more likely to have mental health troubles.

        This is where it gets important. If we want to help teens be mentally healthy, we need to pay attention to how they’re doing. Regular check-ins are key.  If we see some signs of trouble, we can step in and support them.

Mental Health: How Childhood Experiences Shape Adolescent Well-being

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