Mental health and loneliness in Scottish schools: a multilevel analysis of data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study

Goodfellow, C. , Willis, M. , Inchley, J. , Kharicha, K., Leyland, A. H. , Qualter, P., Simpson, S. and Long, E. (2023) Mental health and loneliness in Scottish schools: a multilevel analysis of data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 93(2), pp. 608-625. (doi: 10.1111/bjep.12581) (PMID:36683467)

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Abstract

Background: Adolescent loneliness and poor mental health represent dual public health concerns. Yet, associations between loneliness and mental health, and critically, how these associations vary in school settings are less understood. Aims: Framed by social-ecological theory, we aimed to identify key predictors of adolescent mental health and examine school-level variation in the relationship between loneliness and mental health. Sample: Cross-sectional data on adolescents from the 2018 wave of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (HBSC) in Scotland were used (N = 5286). Methods: Mental health was measured as a composite variable containing items assessing nervousness, irritability, sleep difficulties and feeling low. Loneliness was measured via a single item assessing how often adolescents felt ‘left out’. Multilevel models were used to identify social-ecological predictors of mental health, associations with loneliness and between-school variation. Results: Loneliness, as well as demographic, social and school factors, was found to be associated with mental health. Mental health varied across schools, with the between-school difference greater among adolescents with high levels of loneliness. Additionally, the negative effect of loneliness on mental health was stronger in schools with lower average mental health scores. Conclusions: The findings suggest that schools can play an important role in shaping adolescent mental health. Our study uniquely identifies that school-based interventions targeting mental health may be especially necessary among lonely adolescents, and programmes aimed at tackling loneliness may be more beneficial in schools with poorer mental health.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Long, Dr Emily and Willis, Dr Malachi and Goodfellow, Ms Claire and Leyland, Professor Alastair and Simpson, Professor Sharon and Inchley, Dr Joanna
Authors: Goodfellow, C., Willis, M., Inchley, J., Kharicha, K., Leyland, A. H., Qualter, P., Simpson, S., and Long, E.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
Journal Name:British Journal of Educational Psychology
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:0007-0998
ISSN (Online):2044-8279
Published Online:23 January 2023
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2023 The Authors
First Published:First published in British Journal of Educational Psychology 93(2):608-625
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons license

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
308351Loneliness and Mental Health in Adolescent and Young Adult PopulationsEmily LongEconomic and Social Research Council (ESRC)ES/T008679/1SHW - MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit
3048230011Complexity in healthSharon SimpsonMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_00022/1HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
3048230021Inequalities in healthAlastair LeylandMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_00022/2HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
3048230031Relationships and healthKirstin MitchellMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_00022/3HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
3048230061Complexity in healthSharon SimpsonOffice of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)SPHSU16HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
3048230071Inequalities in healthAlastair LeylandOffice of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)SPHSU17HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
3048230081Relationships and healthKirstin MitchellOffice of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)SPHSU18HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit