Protective factor

Despite growing concerns about mental health difficulties among children and youth, limited empirical evidence exists on the extent to which adverse childhood experiences and resilience predict mental health difficulties among school-going children and youth in rural communities. This research explored the prevalence and psychosocial predictors of mental health difficulties among children and youth. The study adopted a correlational and descriptive research design. Respondents consisted of 837 children and youth, who were selected from Johannesburg West Education District. They were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q), and the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM) as data-collection instruments. Frequencies and percentages, regression analysis, and moderation analysis were conducted using Hayes' PROCESS Macro. Findings revealed that about 44.4%, 18.3%, and 37.3% of the participants were within the normal, borderline, and abnormal ranges of mental health well-being, respectively. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) significantly predicted mental health difficulties (β = .238, t = 7.071, p < .001), contributing about 5.6% of the variation in mental health difficulties among youth and children. Resilience is also a significant predictor (β = −.121, t = −3.524, p < .001), accounting for about 1.5% of the variation in mental health problems; higher resilience was associated with lower levels of mental health difficulties. Moderation analyses showed that age and gender did not significantly moderate the relationships between ACEs, resilience, and mental health difficulties. The study concludes that ACEs constitute a significant risk factor, whereas resilience serves as a protective factor. The findings highlight the need for trauma-informed interventions, resilience-building programmes, and comprehensive mental health support services to promote positive mental health outcomes among children and youth.

Abstract Less effective emotion regulation abilities during childhood represent a significant factor of risk for healthy child development. However, despite much research into less skilled emotion regulation abilities, findings about the outcomes of emotion regulation ability trajectories in adolescence are inconsistent. This may reflect methodological challenges in undertaking prospective longitudinal research, or a lack of clarity about factors that influence developmental outcomes. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the prospective relation between early childhood (ages 3–6) emotion regulation abilities and adolescent outcomes (ages 13–16). Peer reviewed prospective longitudinal research studies published in English since 2015 were included in the review if they examined emotion regulation abilities in early childhood; assessed subsequent outcomes in adolescence; and examined risk, protective, or promotive factors associated with emotion trajectories. Statistical analyses utilized random effects models and reported pooled effect sizes within groups. Of 27,490 records identified, 16 studies were included in the systematic review, and 10 in the meta-analysis. Early emotion regulation abilities that were less adaptive predicted subsequent less adaptive regulation, psychiatric difficulties, academic concerns, and social challenges in adolescence. Risk and promotive factors for early childhood emotion regulation abilities included pregnancy-related factors, parental mental health, socioeconomic status, child characteristics, cognitive and behavioral traits, and family dynamics. This highlighted the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. There was conflicting evidence about sex, suicidality, and externalizing behaviors, and quantitative analyses revealed high heterogeneity among the studies. The findings offer insights about the identification of youth at risk, and the development of targeted clinical interventions to enhance adolescent developmental outcomes.

The aim of this systematic review is to comprehensively evaluate recent research examining the relationships between teachers’ psychological resilience, burnout, and related variables from a holistic perspective. In this context, empirical and review studies published between 2020 and 2025 and conducted with teacher samples were analyzed using a systematic review methodology. The literature search was carried out in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), and Scopus databases, and studies were selected based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. As a result of this process, 23 empirical studies and 4 review studies were included in the systematic review.The findings indicate that teachers’ psychological resilience is negatively associated with the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization dimensions of burnout, while it is positively related to favorable outcomes such as professional efficacy, well-being, and work engagement. Teachers with higher levels of psychological resilience appear to be more resistant to occupational demands and experience lower levels of burnout symptoms. While some of the reviewed studies identified psychological resilience as a direct predictor of burnout, others revealed indirect effects through variables such as job stress, teacher self-efficacy, motivation, and organizational conditions. The findings of the review studies further support these results and emphasize the importance of conceptualizing teachers’ psychological resilience within a framework of individual and organizational resources.In conclusion, this systematic review demonstrates that teachers’ psychological resilience functions as a significant protective factor against burnout. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at strengthening teachers’ psychological resilience at both individual and organizational levels may play a critical role in promoting sustainable teacher well-being.

Objective Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an urgent and substantial public health concern among adolescents. This study is aimed at identifying the independent psychological predictors of NSSI and developing and validating a logistic regression-based risk discrimination model focused on coping styles. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 206 adolescents (104 with NSSI and 102 healthy controls) was conducted. All the participants provided general demographic data, and completed the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory (ECR), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form Version (CTQ-SF), and the Coping Styles Questionnaire (CSQ). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent predictors of NSSI. A nomogram was constructed in accordance with the final multivariate model. Model performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration plots, the Hosmer-Lemeshow (HL) test, and a decision curve analysis (DCA). Results Multivariate logistic regression revealed that a higher level of self-blame (OR = 1.062; 95% CI: 1.023–1.102; P = 0.002) was an independent risk factor, whereas a better problem-solving capacity (OR = 0.911; 95% CI: 0.867–0.957; P < 0.001) was an independent protective factor for adolescents with NSSI. Attachment dimensions and childhood trauma did not retain independent significance after adjustment. The nomogram showed excellent discrimination (AUC = 0.951, 95% CI: 0.922–0.980), good calibration (HL test P > 0.05), and superior clinical net benefit across a wide threshold (0.01–0.99). Conclusion Targeting self-blame and enhancing problem-solving skills may be effective styles for the prevention of adolescent NSSI. As a preliminary finding, the nomogram developed in our study is a useful tool for exploratory differentiation.

Pre-adolescence 9-12 years is a critical developmental period characterized by rapid biological, emotional, cognitive, and social changes that influence future mental health and well-being. Indian pre-adolescents increasingly encounter academic pressure, changing family dynamics, peer challenges, and extensive digital exposure, creating potential risks to emotional adjustment. Resilience, defined as the ability to adapt positively to adversity and recover from challenging experiences, is an important protective factor during this formative stage. This article aims to examine the determinants and dimensions of resilience among Indian pre-adolescents and to propose a culturally relevant, integrated framework for promoting resilience across biological, psychological, social, and digital domains. This article highlights key factors that strengthen resilience, including emotional regulation, self-esteem, self-compassion, problem-solving skills, supportive parenting, positive school environments, healthy peer relationships, and community connectedness. Digital resilience is also emphasized, encompassing safe technology use, digital literacy, responsible online behavior, and adaptive coping with cyberbullying, online risks, and excessive screen exposure. Based on existing evidence and contextual insights, the integrated pre-adolescent resilience model (IPARM) is proposed, integrating biological, psychological, social, and digital dimensions. Resilience promotion strategies are discussed at individual, family, school, community, and healthcare levels, with nurses and other health professionals playing an important role in early identification of vulnerable children, mental health promotion, and implementation of resilience-building interventions. Strengthening resilience during pre-adolescence represents a valuable preventive mental health strategy. A holistic and culturally responsive approach can foster emotional competence, psychological well-being, adaptability, and healthy development, enabling Indian children to navigate contemporary challenges and develop into confident and resilient individuals.

Depression is a major public health concern in China, with growing urban-rural disparities. This study aimed to examine how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and other factors contribute to these disparities. Data were drawn from 7979 adults aged ≥45 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Twenty-four ACEs were obtained from the 2014 wave, while individual characteristics and depressive symptoms were extracted from the 2018 wave, and the Fairlie model was used to analyze factors contributing to urban-rural disparities. Overall, 36.08% of participants reported depressive symptoms, with a higher rate in rural than in urban areas (39.7% vs. 30.3%, p < 0.001). In terms of ACEs, parental anxiety, parental strictness, and childhood adverse health conditions were risk factors in rural areas but not in urban areas, whereas adverse intra-parental relationship and childhood poor friendship were risk factors in urban areas but not significant in rural areas. Parental divorce was a protective factor in rural areas, while parental depression was a risk factor in both settings. The Fairlie model revealed that 55.65% of the urban-rural difference could be explained by self-rated health status (18.24%), Internet use (7.70%), retirement (6.32%), parental depression (6.19%), educational level (5.35%), life satisfaction (4.68%), gender (-2.56%), childhood starvation (1.68%), parental disability (1.44%), age (0.79%), childhood disease (0.63%), childhood bullying (0.60%), childhood adverse health conditions (0.55%), and marital status (-0.34%). These findings indicate that urban-rural disparities in depressive symptoms may be attributed to both individual and ACEs factors, and interventions should address both structural determinants and ACEs.

افسردگی یکی از نگرانی‌های عمده بهداشت عمومی در چین است که با افزایش نابرابری‌های شهری-روستایی همراه است. هدف این مطالعه بررسی نقش تجارب نامطلوب دوران کودکی (ACEs) و سایر عوامل در این نابرابری‌ها بود. داده‌ها از ۷۹۷۹ فرد بزرگسال با سن ≥۴۵ سال از مطالعه طولی سلامت و بازنشستگی چین استخراج شد. بیست‌وچهار تجربه نامطلوب دوران کودکی از موج ۲۰۱۴ و ویژگی‌های فردی و علائم افسردگی از موج ۲۰۱۸ به دست آمد و مدل Fairlie برای تحلیل عوامل مؤثر بر نابرابری‌های شهری-روستایی به کار رفت. به طور کلی، ۳۶/۰۸٪ از شرکت‌کنندگان علائم افسردگی را گزارش کردند که این میزان در مناطق روستایی بالاتر از مناطق شهری بود (۳۹/۷٪ در مقابل ۳۰/۳٪، p < 0.001). از نظر ACEs، اضطراب والدین، سخت‌گیری والدین و شرایط نامطلوب سلامت دوران کودکی در مناطق روستایی عوامل خطر محسوب می‌شوند اما در مناطق شهری این‌گونه نبود، در حالی که رابطه نامطلوب والدین با یکدیگر و دوستی ضعیف دوران کودکی در مناطق شهری عوامل خطر بودند اما در مناطق روستایی معنادار نبودند. طلاق والدین در مناطق روستایی عامل محافظتی بود، در حالی که افسردگی والدین در هر دو محیط عامل خطر محسوب می‌شد. مدل Fairlie نشان داد که ۵۵/۶۵٪ از تفاوت شهری-روستایی را می‌توان با وضعیت سلامت خودارزیابی‌شده (۱۸/۲۴٪)، استفاده از اینترنت (۷/۷۰٪)، بازنشستگی (۶/۳۲٪)، افسردگی والدین (۶/۱۹٪)، سطح تحصیلات (۵/۳۵٪)، رضایت از زندگی (۴/۶۸٪)، جنسیت (۲/۵۶-٪)، گرسنگی دوران کودکی (۱/۶۸٪)، ناتوانی والدین (۱/۴۴٪)، سن (۰/۷۹٪)، بیماری دوران کودکی (۰/۶۳٪)، زورگویی دوران کودکی (۰/۶۰٪)، شرایط نامطلوب سلامت دوران کودکی (۰/۵۵٪) و وضعیت تأهل (۰/۳۴-٪) تبیین کرد. این یافته‌ها نشان می‌دهد که نابرابری‌های شهری-روستایی در علائم افسردگی ممکن است به هر دو عامل فردی و تجارب نامطلوب دوران کودکی نسبت داده شود و مداخلات باید هر دو عامل ساختاری و ACEs را مدنظر قرار دهند.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether the components of hope (agency and pathways) and self-compassion (self-warmth and self-coldness) moderate the relationship between poorer perceived physical health and depressive symptoms, and whether these moderating effects are conditional on place of residence. METHODS: = 8.16) completed the Adult Hope Scale, Self-Compassion Scale, physical health items of the Duke Health Profile, and short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale. RESULTS: Almost half (46.3%) of the sample had sub-threshold depressive symptoms. Pathways weakened the association between poorer perceived physical health and depressive symptoms for urban older adults. Self-coldness strengthened the association between poorer perceived physical health and depressive symptoms for rural older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Pathways are a protective factor for Nepali older adults experiencing poorer perceived physical health from urban areas, whereas self-coldness is an additional risk factor for those living in rural areas. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Interventions aimed at reducing depressive symptoms among Nepali older adults with poorer perceived physical health should focus on increasing pathways in urban areas and reducing self-coldness in rural areas.

اهداف: این مطالعه بررسی کرد که آیا مؤلفه‌های امید (عاملیت و مسیرها) و شفقت به خود (گرمی به خود و سردی به خود) رابطه بین سلامت جسمانی ادراک‌شده ضعیف‌تر و نشانه‌های افسردگی را تعدیل می‌کنند و آیا این اثرات تعدیل‌گر وابسته به محل سکونت هستند یا خیر. روش‌ها: شرکت‌کنندگان (انحراف معیار = ۸٫۱۶) مقیاس امید بزرگسالان، مقیاس شفقت به خود، پرسش‌های سلامت جسمانی از پروفایل سلامت Duke و فرم کوتاه مقیاس افسردگی سالمندان را تکمیل کردند. نتایج: تقریباً نیمی (۴۶٫۳٪) از نمونه دارای نشانه‌های افسردگی زیر آستانه بودند. مسیرها ارتباط بین سلامت جسمانی ادراک‌شده ضعیف‌تر و نشانه‌های افسردگی را برای سالمندان شهری تضعیف کرد. سردی به خود این ارتباط را برای سالمندان روستایی تقویت کرد. نتیجه‌گیری: مسیرها یک عامل محافظتی برای سالمندان نپالی با سلامت جسمانی ادراک‌شده ضعیف‌تر در مناطق شهری هستند، در حالی که سردی به خود یک عامل خطر اضافی برای افراد ساکن مناطق روستایی است. پیامدهای بالینی: مداخلاتی که با هدف کاهش نشانه‌های افسردگی در سالمندان نپالی با سلامت جسمانی ادراک‌شده ضعیف‌تر انجام می‌شوند، باید بر افزایش مسیرها در مناطق شهری و کاهش سردی به خود در مناطق روستایی تمرکز کنند.

INTRODUCTION: Lifestyle factors are increasingly recognized as important correlates of adolescent mental health and wellbeing. However, existing research has largely focused on sleep, nutrition, and physical activity in isolation, with less attention to cumulative multidomain lifestyle protective factors and their prospective associations with subsequent wellbeing beyond prior mental health. METHODS: Data were drawn from 163 adolescents (55.2% female; aged 12-17 years) participating in the Australian Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study between 2018 and 2025. Lagged generalized estimating equation models examined associations between cumulative lifestyle protective factors and wellbeing at the subsequent assessment after adjustment for prior wellbeing, age, and sex. Two lifestyle protective factor indices were examined: a Base Index comprising nutrition, sleep, and physical activity, and an Extended Index additionally incorporating mindfulness and social connectedness. Outcomes were positive wellbeing measured using the COMPAS-W and low psychological distress measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). RESULTS: Lifestyle protective factors commonly co-occurred across behavioral and psychosocial domains. Higher scores on both the Base and Extended lifestyle protective factor indices were associated with greater odds of subsequent positive wellbeing and low psychological distress after adjustment for prior wellbeing, age, and sex. CONCLUSIONS: Cumulative lifestyle protective factors were prospectively associated with subsequent adolescent wellbeing after accounting for prior levels of wellbeing, highlighting multidomain lifestyle protection as a potentially important contributor to mental health across adolescence.

مقدمه: عوامل سبک زندگی به طور فزاینده‌ای به عنوان همبسته‌های مهم سلامت روان و بهزیستی نوجوانان شناخته می‌شوند. با این حال، پژوهش‌های موجود عمدتاً به خواب، تغذیه و فعالیت بدنی به صورت مجزا پرداخته‌اند و به عوامل محافظ سبک زندگی چندحوزه‌ای تجمعی و ارتباطات آینده‌نگر آن‌ها با بهزیستی بعدی فراتر از سلامت روان قبلی کمتر توجه شده است. روش‌ها: داده‌ها از ۱۶۳ نوجوان (۵۵/۲٪ دختر؛ در بازه سنی ۱۲ تا ۱۷ سال) شرکت‌کننده در مطالعه طولی مغز نوجوانان استرالیا بین سال‌های ۲۰۱۸ تا ۲۰۲۵ جمع‌آوری شد. مدل‌های معادلات برآورد تعمیم‌یافته با تاخیر، ارتباط بین عوامل محافظ سبک زندگی تجمعی و بهزیستی در ارزیابی بعدی را پس از تعدیل برای بهزیستی قبلی، سن و جنسیت بررسی کردند. دو شاخص عوامل محافظ سبک زندگی مورد بررسی قرار گرفت: شاخص پایه شامل تغذیه، خواب و فعالیت بدنی و شاخص گسترده که ذهن‌آگاهی و پیوند اجتماعی را نیز در بر می‌گیرد. پیامدها شامل بهزیستی مثبت با استفاده از COMPAS-W و پریشانی روان‌شناختی پایین با استفاده از مقیاس پریشانی روان‌شناختی Kessler (K10) اندازه‌گیری شد. نتایج: عوامل محافظ سبک زندگی معمولاً در حوزه‌های رفتاری و روانی‌اجتماعی به طور همزمان رخ می‌دهند. نمرات بالاتر در هر دو شاخص پایه و گسترده عوامل محافظ سبک زندگی با احتمال بیشتر بهزیستی مثبت بعدی و پریشانی روان‌شناختی پایین پس از تعدیل برای بهزیستی قبلی، سن و جنسیت همراه بود. نتیجه‌گیری: عوامل محافظ سبک زندگی تجمعی به طور آینده‌نگر با بهزیستی بعدی نوجوانان پس از در نظر گرفتن سطوح قبلی بهزیستی مرتبط بودند و بر اهمیت حفاظت چندحوزه‌ای سبک زندگی به عنوان یک عامل بالقوه مهم در سلامت روان در سراسر نوجوانی تأکید می‌کنند.

Background school absenteeism is a common functional impairment among adolescents with mental disorders, yet its associated factors remain limited. This study aimed to identify key demographic, clinical, and social factors associated with school absenteeism in this population. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 217 adolescents (12–18 years) with mental illness, categorized into school-attending (n=163) and school-suspended (n=54) groups. Baseline data on demographics, clinical characteristics, social support, and family factors were collected. Univariate analyses were used to compare group differences, followed by multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis to identify independent predictors of school absenteeism. Results In univariate analysis, school-suspended adolescents had significantly lower social support scores (36.2 ± 10.9 vs. 45.5 ± 12.2, p<0.001), higher rates of parental divorce (46.3% vs. 22.1%, p<0.001), and a higher proportion of pre-hospitalization school absenteeism (51.9% vs. 31.3%, p=0.006). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that parental divorce (OR = 3.04, 95%CI=1.59–5.83, p=0.001), pre-hospitalization school absenteeism (OR = 2.37, 95%CI=1.26–4.43, p=0.007), and longer disease course (OR = 1.02, 95%CI=1.00–1.04, p=0.022) were independent risk factors for school absenteeism. Conversely, higher social support was a strong protective factor: compared to the low social support group (score 17–34), the medium (35–51) and high (52–85) support groups had markedly lower odds of school absenteeism (OR = 0.24, 95%CI=0.08–0.74, p=0.013; OR = 0.05, 95%CI=0.01–0.24, p<0.001, respectively). RCS analysis confirmed a linear negative association (P for non-linearity=0.189), with higher social support scores correlating with progressively lower suspension risk. Conclusions Parental divorce, pre-hospitalization school absenteeism, and longer disease course are independent risk factors for school absenteeism in adolescents with mental illness, while higher social support acts as a robust protective factor. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing family stability, social support enhancement, and early intervention for pre-existing school impairment to reduce school absenteeism and promote functional recovery in this vulnerable population. Clinical trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/ , identifier ChiCTR2100046396.

زمینه و هدف: غیبت از مدرسه یکی از اختلالات عملکردی شایع در میان نوجوانان مبتلا به اختلالات روانی است، اما عوامل مرتبط با آن هنوز به طور محدودی شناخته شده‌اند. این مطالعه با هدف شناسایی عوامل کلیدی جمعیت‌شناختی، بالینی و اجتماعی مرتبط با غیبت از مدرسه در این جمعیت انجام شد. روش‌ها: یک مطالعه کوهورت گذشته‌نگر بر روی ۲۱۷ نوجوان (۱۲ تا ۱۸ سال) مبتلا به اختلال روانی انجام شد که به دو گروه مدرسه‌رو (n=163) و تعلیق‌شده از مدرسه (n=54) تقسیم شدند. داده‌های پایه شامل ویژگی‌های جمعیت‌شناختی، بالینی، حمایت اجتماعی و عوامل خانوادگی جمع‌آوری گردید. برای مقایسه تفاوت‌های گروهی از تحلیل‌های یک‌متغیره استفاده شد و سپس رگرسیون لجستیک چندمتغیره و تحلیل restricted cubic spline (RCS) برای شناسایی پیش‌بین‌های مستقل غیبت از مدرسه به کار رفت. یافته‌ها: در تحلیل یک‌متغیره، نوجوانان تعلیق‌شده از مدرسه امتیاز حمایت اجتماعی به طور معناداری پایین‌تری داشتند (۳۶٫۲ ± ۱۰٫۹ در مقابل ۴۵٫۵ ± ۱۲٫۲، ۰٫۰۰۱>p)، نرخ بالاتری از طلاق والدین (۴۶٫۳٪ در مقابل ۲۲٫۱٪، ۰٫۰۰۱>p) و نسبت بیشتری از غیبت از مدرسه پیش از بستری شدن (۵۱٫۹٪ در مقابل ۳۱٫۳٪، ۰٫۰۰۶=p) را نشان دادند. رگرسیون لجستیک چندمتغیره نشان داد که طلاق والدین (OR = 3.04، 95%CI=1.59–5.83، ۰٫۰۰۱=p)، غیبت از مدرسه پیش از بستری شدن (OR = 2.37، 95%CI=1.26–4.43، ۰٫۰۰۷=p) و طولانی‌تر بودن دوره بیماری (OR = 1.02، 95%CI=1.00–1.04، ۰٫۰۲۲=p) عوامل خطر مستقل برای غیبت از مدرسه هستند. در مقابل، حمایت اجتماعی بالاتر یک عامل محافظتی قوی بود: در مقایسه با گروه حمایت اجتماعی پایین (امتیاز ۱۷–۳۴)، گروه‌های حمایت متوسط (۳۵–۵۱) و بالا (۵۲–۸۵) به طور قابل توجهی شانس کمتری برای غیبت از مدرسه داشتند (OR = 0.24، 95%CI=0.08–0.74، ۰٫۰۱۳=p؛ OR = 0.05، 95%CI=0.01–0.24، ۰٫۰۰۱>p، به ترتیب). تحلیل RCS وجود یک ارتباط منفی خطی را تأیید کرد (P for non-linearity=0.189)، به طوری که با افزایش امتیاز حمایت اجتماعی، خطر تعلیق از مدرسه به طور پیوسته کاهش می‌یابد. نتیجه‌گیری: طلاق والدین، غیبت از مدرسه پیش از بستری شدن و طولانی‌تر بودن دوره بیماری، عوامل خطر مستقل برای غیبت از مدرسه در نوجوانان مبتلا به اختلالات روانی هستند، در حالی که حمایت اجتماعی بالاتر به عنوان یک عامل محافظتی قوی عمل می‌کند. این یافته‌ها بر ضرورت مداخلات هدفمند در زمینه ثبات خانواده، تقویت حمایت اجتماعی و مداخله زودهنگام برای اختلال عملکرد مدرسه‌ای پیشین جهت کاهش غیبت از مدرسه و ارتقاء بهبود عملکردی در این جمعیت آسیب‌پذیر تأکید می‌کند. ثبت کارآزمایی بالینی: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ ، شناسه ChiCTR2100046396.