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Intersecting social positions and mental wellbeing in adolescence: A population-based study
Eva Oberle1, Suiqiong Fan1, Xuejun Ryan Ji2
1Human Early Learning Partnership, School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, BC, Canada.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|July 4, 2026
Summary
Adolescent mental wellbeing is complexly linked to intersecting identities. Transgender and gender-diverse youth consistently reported lower wellbeing, highlighting the need for nuanced policies addressing combined social factors.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent health
- Sociology
- Mental health research
Background:
- Adolescent mental wellbeing is influenced by gender, ethnicity, and family structure.
- Quantitative research on the intersections of these factors is limited.
- This study used multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy (MAIHDA) to explore these intersections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the intersections of gender, ethnicity, and family composition.
- To assess their relationship with adolescent satisfaction with life (SWL) and depressive symptoms.
- To provide quantitative insights into complex identity interactions and mental health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of population-based cross-sectional data from the Middle Years Development Instrument (N=40,768) for students in grades 6-8 in British Columbia.
- Construction of intersectional social strata based on self-reported gender, ethnicity, and family composition.
- Application of multilevel models to analyze SWL and depressive symptoms within these strata.
Main Results:
- Social strata explained 14% of variance in SWL and 13% in depressive symptoms, largely due to main effects of gender, ethnicity, and family composition.
- Transgender and gender-diverse youth showed the strongest main effect, with consistently lower wellbeing.
- Significant intersectional effects were observed, including higher SWL for White and South Asian cisgender boys in two-parent households, and lower SWL/higher depressive symptoms for East Asian cisgender boys in two-parent households.
Conclusions:
- Intersectionality significantly influences adolescent mental wellbeing in intricate ways.
- Policies must incorporate intersectional nuance, acknowledging diverse needs arising from combined characteristics.
- Understanding these complex interactions is crucial for developing effective mental health support for adolescents.
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