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Not Flourishing Mental Health Is Associated with Higher Risks of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in College Students

Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
19 June 2020

Abstract

Youth mental health is a major public health concern. This study assesses whether baseline and short-term changes in mental health predict anxiety and depressive symptoms in college students. Not flourishing mental health at baseline was a risk factor for high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Compared to participants with stable flourishing mental health, those who declined to not flourishing and those who were stable not flourishing had increased risks of high anxiety and depressive symptoms. Assessing mental health may be effective in predicting mental disorder symptoms and supports the need for mental health promotion interventions.

Resumen

La santé mentale des jeunes est un enjeu majeur de santé publique. Cette étude évalue si l’état initial et le changement de l’état de santé mentale permettent de prédire les symptômes anxieux et dépressifs chez les étudiants au collégial. Une santé mentale non florissante laisse présager un risque de symptômes anxieux et dépressifs. Comparativement aux jeunes stables florissants, ceux qui déclinent à non florissants et ceux stables non florissants présentent un risque accru de symptômes anxieux et dépressifs. L’évaluation de la santé mentale permet de prédire le risque de symptômes de troubles mentaux et renforce l’importance des interventions de promotion de la santé mentale.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

cover image Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 39Number 1May 2020
Pages: 33 - 48

History

Version of record online: 19 June 2020

Key Words

  1. mental health
  2. flourishing
  3. anxiety
  4. depression
  5. mental health promotion
  6. college students

Mots-clés

  1. santé mentale
  2. florissant
  3. anxiété
  4. dépression
  5. promotion de la santé mentale
  6. étudiants

Authors

Affiliations

Isabelle Doré [email protected]
University of Toronto, CHUM Research Centre
Jennifer O’Loughlin
Université de Montréal, CHUM Research Centre
Marie-Pierre Sylvestre
Université de Montréal, CHUM Research Centre
Catherine Michelle Sabiston
Guy Beauchamp
Quebec Network on Suicide Mood Disorders and Related Disorders
Marc Martineau
Cegep de l’Outaouais
Louise Fournier
Université de Montréal

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