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System dynamics of preadolescent mental wellbeing: A multi-actor perspective in Amsterdam using systems archetypes
Eline M Meuleman1, Vincent Busch2, Wilma E Waterlander3
1Department of Health Sciences and Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Journal of Public Health Research
|June 29, 2026
Summary
Understanding preadolescent mental wellbeing requires a systems approach. This study reveals how social norms and structures create recurring patterns that impact youth mental health, necessitating multilevel interventions.
Area of Science:
- System dynamics
- Public health
- Adolescent psychology
Background:
- Traditional research on mental wellbeing often neglects lived experiences and dynamic system behaviors.
- This study addresses the need for a more holistic understanding of preadolescent mental wellbeing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the system dynamics shaping preadolescent mental wellbeing.
- To incorporate diverse stakeholder perspectives and analyze system behavior.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study using cocreated tools and semistructured interviews with preadolescents, caretakers, and professionals.
- Developed a causal loop diagram (CLD) informed by multi-actor input.
- Analyzed the CLD using systems archetypes.
Main Results:
- Expanded CLD included 62 factors, 50 feedback loops, and 11 subsystems.
- Identified interactions between social norms, institutional structures, and local contexts influencing wellbeing.
- Seven systems archetypes, including 'Success to the Successful' and 'Shifting the Burden', explained recurring patterns in mental wellbeing.
Conclusions:
- Complex public health issues like mental wellbeing lack simple solutions.
- Multilevel strategies targeting structural drivers and archetypal patterns are essential.
- Adopting a systems (archetype) lens can improve understanding and action for preadolescent mental wellbeing.
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