The Association between Loneliness, Mental Well-Being, and Self-Esteem among Adolescents in Four Nordic Countries

Author(s)
Lyyra, Nelli
Thorsteinsson, Einar Baldvin
Eriksson, Charli
Madsen, Katrine Rich
Tolvanen, Asko
Löfstedt, Petra
Välimaa, Raili
Publication Date
2021
Abstract
Positive mental health is central to adolescent well-being. The present study examines the prevalence of loneliness and positive mental health indicators (mental well-being and self-esteem) in four Nordic countries and associations between loneliness, mental well-being, and high self-esteem. This study is based on data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study which was conducted in 2018 in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden. Participants were 5883 15-year-oldboys and girls. To examine the associations between loneliness, mental well-being, and self-esteem, structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied. In the comparison of Nordic countries, the prevalence of loneliness was highest among Finnish and Icelandic adolescents. Highmental well-being and high self-esteem were most prevalent in Denmark and Sweden. In general, boys scored higher on positive mental health indicators and girls on loneliness. Loneliness was also a strong indicator of low mental well-being and low self-esteem in all Nordic countries. Lonelinessis not only associated with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, but it is also a risk factor for adolescents' positive mental health. Positive mental health is important for healthy maturation and there is a need to develop initiatives to reduce adolescent loneliness and so support positive development
Citation
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), p. 1-12
ISSN
1660-4601
1661-7827
Link
Language
en
Publisher
MDPI AG
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International
Title
The Association between Loneliness, Mental Well-Being, and Self-Esteem among Adolescents in Four Nordic Countries
Type of document
Journal Article
Entity Type
Publication

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