The Longitudinal Dynamics Of Group Membership In The Dual-Factor Model Of Mental Health In Youth

This study examined the longitudinal stability and dynamics of group membership within the Greenspoon and Sakflofske's dual-factor model of mental health.This expanded model incorporates information about subjective well-being(SWB),in addition to psychopathological symptoms,to better identify the mental health status and current functioning of youths.Participants included 745 7th-,8th-,10 th and 11 th grade China middle school students.To assess the stability of group membership,participants were reclassified according to DFM status 11 months later.Four groups of students were identified:Complete mental health(high SWB and low psychopathology),Vulnerable(low SWB and low psychopathology),Symptomatic but content(high SWB and high psychopathology),and Troubled(low SWB and high psychopathology).(1)Analyses of stability of group membership revealed varying levels of stability,with Complete mental health students demonstrating the highest stability.(2)Analyses also revealed that GPA variables yielded meaningful predictions of changes in group membership.Complete mentalhealth group in the area of academic performance was significantly better than the other mental health group.(3)The dual-factor of Subjective well-being and life events indicators on adolescents' mental health status transformed from Complete mental health group to the Vulnerable group,Symptomatic but content group and Troubled group or transformed from Troubled group to the Symptomatic but content group,Vulnerable group and Complete mental health group showed significantly differences;(4)To improve the subjective well-being and reduce the psychological symptoms of the disease would help teenagers to improve their performance and academic achievement in school.