Socioecological Predictors on Psychological Flourishing in the US Adolescence

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between children’s flourishing and socioecological factors, including individual and family characteristics. A total of 45,309 children were drawn from the 2011–2012 National Survey of Children’s Health in the US (mean age = 13.6 years; male: 51.28%). An ordinary least square (OLS) regression was performed to examine the association between socioecological variables and flourishing. This study assessed children’s individual needs (such as health, education, and emotional and behavioral development), their parents’ parenting capacity (the ability to provide basic care and safety), and family factors (presence of community resources and family income). Children’s individual characteristics, parent’s capacities, and family functions were found to be significantly associated with children’s flourishing. In conclusion, multilevel socioecological factors appeared to be associated with children’s flourishing. Hence, parents’ involvement in their children’s physical activities, as well as family and social support, is crucial for children’s flourishing. This study makes a significant contribution to the literature as research is lacking a correlation between socioecological factors and children’s flourishing; in particular, very few studies have explored or investigated the manner by which children’s socioecological health indicators and factors are associated with their flourishing.

A systematic review of adolescent flourishing

“…Just as it has been observed in this review, factors which associate with and have an impact on flourishing operate in multiple levels (Kandasamy et al, 2018;Kim et al, 2020). Studies report that the anger of parents (Nabors et al, 2016;Odar Stough et al, 2015) and the use of substances (Kim et al, 2020) is related to lower levels of prosperity in children.…”

“…On the other hand, it has been detected that in various studies researchers resort to parental evaluation of adolescent flourishing (e.g. Bethell et al, 2019;Kim et al, 2020). In relationship to this, although parents continue being involved in the lives of their adolescents, it is estimated that the global evaluation of well-being is more precise when it is performed through self-reported instruments.…”

“…Studies report that the anger of parents (Nabors et al, 2016;Odar Stough et al, 2015) and the use of substances (Kim et al, 2020) is related to lower levels of prosperity in children. In contrast, good physical and mental health of the parents, their coping skills (Kim et al, 2020;Nabors et al, 2016), doing family activities and having good father-son bonds (Kim et al, 2020) has a positive impact.…”

“…In this axis, which understands flourishing as a construct influenced by the different cultural, social and context-related aspects of the place where the adolescent develops, six articles were included. According to Kim et al (2020), the flourishing of American children and adolescents is associated to various socio-ecological factors. More specifically, the authors suggest that overweight, sedentary lifestyle and frequent school absences are related to lower levels of prosperity in children and youth.…”

Perceived procedural justice and psychological flourishing among mental health professionals in Macao: a moderated mediation model

“…Psychological flourishing is considered to be an optimal state of psychosocial health and a useful indicator of overall psychosocial wellbeing because it encompasses multiple wellbeing domains, including emotional wellbeing (i.e., high life satisfaction and positive emotional experience), positive psychological functioning (i.e., high levels of autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive interpersonal relations, life meaning, and self-acceptance; Ryff & Singer, 1998 ), and positive social functioning (e.g., career and social contribution; Huppert & So, 2013 ). In other words, psychological flourishing relates to not only personal pleasure, but also fulfilment of self-achievement in life, as well as one’s positive contribution to others and the society (Kim et al, 2020 ). Inevitably, work and its related factors, such as work demands (Kim & Beehr, 2020 ) and workplace relationships (Colbert et al, 2016 ), influence employees’ psychological flourishing, but further research that identifies factors that promote psychological flourishing and those mechanisms underlying their effects is warranted in order to inform effective interventions designed to promote wellbeing among employees.…”