Struggles in adolescence: a cross-group and multidimensional analysis on high school student depression and risk behaviors

This study examines the multifaceted relationships between depression and risk behaviours among high school students. It utilizes nearly 1.5 million samples to explore nine broad categories – driving unsafety, weapon-related behaviours, physical fights, suicidality, smoking, alcohol consumption, sub...

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Main Authors: Jessica K. Sun, Ayanda Chakawa, Daniel X. Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:International Journal of Adolescence and Youth
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2025.2498056
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author Jessica K. Sun
Ayanda Chakawa
Daniel X. Zhang
author_facet Jessica K. Sun
Ayanda Chakawa
Daniel X. Zhang
author_sort Jessica K. Sun
collection DOAJ
description This study examines the multifaceted relationships between depression and risk behaviours among high school students. It utilizes nearly 1.5 million samples to explore nine broad categories – driving unsafety, weapon-related behaviours, physical fights, suicidality, smoking, alcohol consumption, substance abuse, unhealthy eating, and physical inactivity – encompassing 50 individual components. Employing normalized association tests, logistic regressions, and bootstrapping methods, the analysis evaluates the strength and significance of the depression-risk behaviour association across demographic groups. This study also maps out the multidimensional pattern among intersectional subgroups, offering novel insights into how depression impacts diverse student populations. The results highlight the heterogeneity of depression’s effects across demographic subgroups, providing critical insights for tailoring mental health strategies. This research provides actionable findings informing educators, policymakers, and mental health practitioners, accentuating the need for targeted, data-driven interventions to mitigate risk behaviours and improve student well-being.
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spelling doaj-art-6640a99298df40b1b72a9f31bb0f72f02025-08-20T03:53:42ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Adolescence and Youth0267-38432164-45272025-12-0130110.1080/02673843.2025.2498056Struggles in adolescence: a cross-group and multidimensional analysis on high school student depression and risk behaviorsJessica K. Sun0Ayanda Chakawa1Daniel X. Zhang2Youth Health Analytics, Ylink at Blue Valley, Overland Park, KS, USADepartment of Developmental and Behavioral Health, Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas City, MO, USADepartment of Economics and Informatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandThis study examines the multifaceted relationships between depression and risk behaviours among high school students. It utilizes nearly 1.5 million samples to explore nine broad categories – driving unsafety, weapon-related behaviours, physical fights, suicidality, smoking, alcohol consumption, substance abuse, unhealthy eating, and physical inactivity – encompassing 50 individual components. Employing normalized association tests, logistic regressions, and bootstrapping methods, the analysis evaluates the strength and significance of the depression-risk behaviour association across demographic groups. This study also maps out the multidimensional pattern among intersectional subgroups, offering novel insights into how depression impacts diverse student populations. The results highlight the heterogeneity of depression’s effects across demographic subgroups, providing critical insights for tailoring mental health strategies. This research provides actionable findings informing educators, policymakers, and mental health practitioners, accentuating the need for targeted, data-driven interventions to mitigate risk behaviours and improve student well-being.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2025.2498056High school studentsmental healthdepressionrisk behavioursmultidimensional analysis
spellingShingle Jessica K. Sun
Ayanda Chakawa
Daniel X. Zhang
Struggles in adolescence: a cross-group and multidimensional analysis on high school student depression and risk behaviors
International Journal of Adolescence and Youth
High school students
mental health
depression
risk behaviours
multidimensional analysis
title Struggles in adolescence: a cross-group and multidimensional analysis on high school student depression and risk behaviors
title_full Struggles in adolescence: a cross-group and multidimensional analysis on high school student depression and risk behaviors
title_fullStr Struggles in adolescence: a cross-group and multidimensional analysis on high school student depression and risk behaviors
title_full_unstemmed Struggles in adolescence: a cross-group and multidimensional analysis on high school student depression and risk behaviors
title_short Struggles in adolescence: a cross-group and multidimensional analysis on high school student depression and risk behaviors
title_sort struggles in adolescence a cross group and multidimensional analysis on high school student depression and risk behaviors
topic High school students
mental health
depression
risk behaviours
multidimensional analysis
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2025.2498056
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AT danielxzhang strugglesinadolescenceacrossgroupandmultidimensionalanalysisonhighschoolstudentdepressionandriskbehaviors