Evaluation of Individual and Community Factors Affecting Adolescents' Mental Health: A Longitudinal Multilevel Analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of individual and community factors impacting adolescents' mental health development. A multi-level growth model was established to analyze three-year data of 2351 eighth graders from the 2011 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS). Individual characteristics including satisfaction with grades and cell phone dependency, family characteristics (level of neglect and abuse), school characteristics (peer relationships), and community perception characteristic significantly affected the growth of mental health. Percentage of basic livelihood security recipients, smoking rate, and high-risk drinking rate were significant community variables after controlling individual-level variables. The findings indicate not only the compositional effects of individuals but also the contextual effects of the community influence on adolescents' mental health.