Vol. 25 No. 1 (2022)
Articles

POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG BULGARIAN ADOLESCENTS: THE PROTECTIVE ROLE OF CONFIDENCE AND CONNECTION

Published 11/15/2022

Keywords

  • Positive Youth Development (PYD),
  • depression,
  • perceived stress,
  • psychosomatic complaints,
  • adolescents

How to Cite

Alexandrova-Karamanova, A. (2022). POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG BULGARIAN ADOLESCENTS: THE PROTECTIVE ROLE OF CONFIDENCE AND CONNECTION. Psychological Research (in the Balkans), 25(1). https://doi.org/10.7546/PsyRB.2022.25.01.01

Abstract

Positive Youth Development (PYD) focuses on the strengths and positive qualities and outcomes in young people. Lerner’s 5Cs model defines positive development by five aspects: Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring. Research has demonstrated that the 5 Cs and other PYD dimensions are positively associated with positive mental well-being and negatively associated with mental health problems in adolescents. The aim of the study is to examine the levels of the 5Cs of Positive Youth Development and indicators of mental health (depression, perceived stress, and psychosomatic complaints) and to explore their relationships in a representative sample of Bulgarian middle adolescents (N=1517). Data from the Bulgarian 2017/2018 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study were utilized. Measures included the Positive Youth Development Scale – short form, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (CES‐D-R-10), the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4), and the HBSC-Symptom Checklist. High prevalence of depression (35,6%), perceived stress (70,2%), and multiple recurrent psychosomatic complaints (57,5%) was found among Bulgarian adolescents, all being more prevalent in girls compared to boys. Depression, perceived stress, and psychosomatic complaints were significantly negatively associated with Confidence and Connection and these associations remained significant after being adjusted for gender and socioeconomic status. The proportion of explained variance by the 5Cs was 10% for depression, 14% for perceived stress and 16% for psychosomatic complaints. The identified protective effect of Confidence and Connection has important implications for implementing the 5Cs of PYD as an approach for promoting youth mental health and preventing mental health problems.

References

  1. Balázs, J., Miklõsi, M., Keresztény, Á., Hoven, C. W., Carli, V., Wasserman, C., et al. (2013). Adolescent subthreshold-depression and anxiety: Psychopathology, functional impairment and increased suicide risk. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 54(6), 670-677. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12016.
  2. Bradley, K. L., Bagnell, A. L., & Brannen, C. L. (2010). Factorial validity of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression 10 in adolescents. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 31(6), 408-412. Doi: 10.3109/01612840903484105.
  3. Chi, X., Liu, X., Huang, Q., Cui, X., & Lin, L. (2020). The Relationship between Positive Youth Development and Depressive Symptoms among Chinese Early Adolescents: A Three-Year Cross-Lagged Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(17), 6404. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176404.
  4. Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4), 385–396.
  5. Dimitrova, R., & Wiium, N. (Eds). (2021). Handbook of Positive Youth Development: Advancing Research, Policy, and Practice in Global Contexts. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70262-5.
  6. Fernandes, D., Fetvadjev, V., Wiium, N., & Dimitrova, R. (2021). The 5Cs of Positive Youth Development in New Zealand: Relations with Hopeful Expectations for the Future and Life Satisfaction Among Emerging Adults. In: Dimitrova, R., & Wiium, N. (Eds). Handbook of Positive Youth Development: Advancing Research, Policy, and Practice in Global Contexts (pp. 237-250). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70262-5.
  7. Gallo, L. C., & Mathews, K. A. (2003). Understanding the association between socioeconomic status and physical health: do negative emotions play a role? Psychological Bulletin, 129, 10-51. Doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.129.1.10.
  8. Geldhof, G.J., Bowers, E.P., Boyd, M.J., Mueller, M.K., Napolitano, C.M., Schmid, K.L., Lerner, J.V., & Lerner, R.M. (2014). Creation of short and very short measures of the five Cs of Positive Youth Development. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 24(1), 163-176. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12039.
  9. Geldhof, G. J., Larsen, T., Urke, H., Holsen, I., Lewis, H., and Tyler, C. P. (2019). Indicators of positive youth development can be maladaptive: the example case of caring. Journal of Adolescence, 71, 1–9. Doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2018.11.008.
  10. Glasscock, D.J., Andersen, J.H., Labriola, M., Rasmussen, K., & Hansen, C.D. (2013). Can negative life events and coping style help explain socioeconomic differences in perceived stress among adolescents? A cross-sectional study based on the West Jutland cohort study. BMC Public Health, 13, 532. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-532.
  11. Gomez-Baya, D., Babić Čikeš, A., Hirnstein, M., Kurtović, A., Vrdoljak, G., & Wiium, N. (2022). Positive Youth Development and Depression: An Examination of Gender Differences in Croatia and Spain. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 689354. Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.689354.
  12. Gomez-Baya, D., de Matos, M. G., & Wiium, N. (2021). Positive Youth Development and Subjective Happiness: Examining the Mediating Role of Gratitude and Optimism in Spanish Emerging Adults. In: Dimitrova, R., & Wiium, N. (Eds). Handbook of Positive Youth Development: Advancing Research, Policy, and Practice in Global Contexts (pp. 187-202). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70262-5.
  13. Hankin, B. L. (2015). Depression from childhood through adolescence: risk mechanisms across multiple systems and levels of analysis. Current Opinion in Psychology, 4, 13-20. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.01.003.
  14. Haugland, S., & Wold, B. (2001). Subjective health complaints in adolescence - Reliability and validity of survey methods. Journal of Adolescence, 24, 611–624. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1006/jado.2000.0393.
  15. Holsen, I., Geldhof, J., Larsen, T., & Aardal, E. (2017). The five Cs of positive youth development in Norway: Assessment and associations with positive and negative outcomes. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 41(5), 559–569. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025416645668.
  16. Inchley, J., Currie, D., Budisavljevic, S., Torsheim, T., Jåstad, A., Cosma, A. et al., editors. (2020). Spotlight on adolescent health and well-being. Findings from the 2017/2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey in Europe and Canada. International report. Volume 2. Key data. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe.
  17. Inchley, J., Currie, D., Cosma, A., & Samdal, O. (eds). (2018). Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study Protocol: background, methodology and mandatory items for the 2017/18 survey. CAHRU, St. Andrews.
  18. Kaczmarek, M., & Trambacz-Oleszak, S. (2021). School-Related Stressors and the Intensity of Perceived Stress Experienced by Adolescents in Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 11791. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211791.
  19. Kozina, A., Gomez-Baya, D., Gaspar de Matos, M., Tome, G., & Wiium, N. (2021). The Association Between the 5Cs and Anxiety—Insights from Three Countries: Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 668049. Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.668049.
  20. Lerner, R.M., Lerner, J.V., Lewin-Bizan, S., Bowers, E.P., Boyd, M.J., Mueller, M.K., Schmid, K.L., & Napolitano, C.M. (2011). Positive youth development: processes, programs, and problematics. Journal of Youth Development, 6(3), 38-62. Doi: https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2011.174
  21. Lerner, R.M., Lerner, J.V., et al. (2013). The positive development of youth: Comprehensive findings from the 4-H study of Positive Youth Development. National 4-H Council, Tufts University, USA, Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development.
  22. Leung, C. L. K., Bender, M., & Kwok, S. Y. C. L. (2020). A comparison of positive youth development against depression and suicidal ideation in youth from Hong Kong and the Netherlands. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 32(2), 20170105. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2017-0105.
  23. Lindholdt, L., Labriola, M., Andersen, J. H., Kjeldsen, M-M. Z., Obel, C., & Lund, T. (2022). Perceived stress among adolescents as a marker for future mental disorders: A prospective cohort study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 50(3), 412-417. Doi:10.1177/1403494821993719.
  24. Malik, A. O., Peri-Okonny, P. A., Gosch, K., Thomas, M., Mena, C., Hiatt, W. R., et al. (2019). Higher Perceived Stress Levels are Associated with an Increased Long-Term Mortality Risk: A Landmark Analysis in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease. Circulation, 140, Suppl. 1, A13646.
  25. Milot Travers, A. S., & Mahalik, J. R. (2021). Positive youth development as a protective factor for adolescents at risk for depression and alcohol use. Applied Developmental Science, 25(4), 322-331. Doi: 10.1080/10888691.2019.1634569.
  26. Onyeka, O., Richards, M., Tyson McCrea, K., Miller, K., Matthews, C., Donnelly, W., et al. (2021). The role of positive youth development on mental health for youth of color living in high-stress communities: A strengths-based approach. Psychological Services, online ahead of print. Doi: 10.1037/ser0000593.
  27. Ravens-Sieberer, U., Erhart, M., Torsheim, T., et al. (2008). An international scoring system for self-reported health complaints in adolescents. European Journal of Public Health, 18, 294–299. Doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckn001.
  28. Salk, R. H., Hyde, J. S., Abramson, L. Y. (2017). Gender differences in depression in representative national samples: Meta-analyses of diagnoses and symptoms. Psychological Bulletin, 143(8), 783-822. Doi: 10.1037/bul0000102.
  29. Shek, D. T. L., Dou, D., Zhu, X., & Chai, W. (2019). Positive Youth Development: current perspectives. Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics, 10, 131-141. Doi: 10.2147/AHMT.S179946.
  30. Shek, D.T.L., Zhao, L., Dou, D., Zhu, X., & Xiao, C. (2021). The Impact of Positive Youth Development Attributes on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Among Chinese Adolescents Under COVID-19. Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(4), 676-682. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.01.011.
  31. Steen, P. B., Poulsen, P. H., Andersen, J. H., & Biering, K. (2020). Subjective social status is an important determinant of perceived stress among adolescents: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 396. Doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-08509-8.
  32. Tomé, G., Gaspar de Matos, M., Reis, M., Gomez-Baya, D., Coelhoso, F., & Wiium, N. (2021). Positive Youth Development and Wellbeing: Gender Differences. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 641647. Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.641647.
  33. Torsheim, T., Cavallo, F., Levin, K.A., Schnohr, C., Mazur, J., Niclasen, B., Currie, C., & the FAS Development Study Group. (2016). Psychometric validation of the revised Family Affluence Scale: a latent variable approach. Child Indicators Research, 9, 771-784. Doi: 10.1007/s12187-015-9339-x.
  34. Urke, H. B., Holsen, I., & Larsen, T. (2021). Positive Youth Development and Mental Well-Being in Late Adolescence: The Role of Body Appreciation. Findings From a Prospective Study in Norway. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 696198. Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.696198.
  35. Vallejo, M.A., Vallejo-Slocker, L., Fernández-Abascal, E.G., & Mañanes, G. (2018). Determining Factors for Stress Perception Assessed with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4) in Spanish and Other European Samples. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 37. Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00037.
  36. Zhou, Z., Shek, D. T. L., Zhu, X., & Dou, D. (2020). Positive Youth Development and Adolescent Depression: A Longitudinal Study Based on Mainland Chinese High School Students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(12), 4457. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124457.