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Wellness among US adolescents ages 12-17 years
J K Preskitt1, K S Menear2, S S Goldfarb1
1Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Child: Care, Health and Development
|April 8, 2015
Summary
US adolescents generally report high wellness, but older teens, those with health needs, lower family income, or parents with poor mental health had lower scores. Understanding these factors promotes adolescent well-being.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
- Psychology
Background:
- Wellness is a complex concept encompassing physical, emotional, intellectual, and social well-being.
- Understanding wellness in adolescents is crucial for promoting healthy development into adulthood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate wellness levels among US adolescents aged 12-17 years.
- To identify demographic factors associated with adolescent wellness.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 34,601 adolescents (aged 12-17) from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health.
- Developed an overall wellness score based on four subdimensions: physical, intellectual, emotional, and social well-being.
Main Results:
- The average overall wellness score was 30.2 out of 40.
- Lower wellness scores were associated with older age, special health needs, lower family income, and parental fair-poor mental health.
- Specific subdimension scores indicated varying levels across physical, intellectual, emotional, and social domains.
Conclusions:
- US adolescents exhibit generally high wellness scores.
- Key adolescent and family characteristics are linked to reduced overall wellness and specific subdimensions.
- Assessing adolescent wellness is vital for fostering lifelong healthy behaviors.
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