Adolescents with close relatives affected by severe health conditions: prevalence and psychosocial correlates of mental well-being in a Swedish cross-sectional school-based study
Eva Van Geerenstein, Veronica Hermann, Fredrik SöderqvistBackground
Adolescents living with a close relative with severe health conditions (RSHC) may experience challenges affecting their mental well-being. Previous research has largely focused on caregiving roles or specific illnesses while less is known about broader populations of adolescents with RSHC. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of adolescents with RSHC and to examine associations with mental well-being across different sociodemographic and psychosocial contexts.
Methods
The data were drawn from a cross-sectional, population-based school survey conducted in Örebro County, Sweden, which included 4 140 adolescents aged 15–18 years. Mental well-being was assessed using the Mental Health Continuum–Short Form. Sequentially adjusted linear regression stratified by gender was used to examine associations between RSHC and mental well-being, accounting for key factors.
Results
Half of the adolescents (n=2 212) reported having at least one RSHC, with 31% reporting one and 19% reporting several RSHCs. Adolescents with RSHC reported significantly lower mean mental well-being than those without RSHC. In the fully adjusted model, substance abuse in a close relative remained associated with lower mental well-being, whereas associations for other RSHC types were attenuated. General stress and perceived availability of someone to confide in were strongly associated with mental well-being.
Conclusion
Having a relative with RSHC is common among adolescents and is associated with lower mental well-being, particularly when close relatives are affected by substance abuse. The findings suggest that adolescent mental well-being in the context of RSHC is shaped by broader psychosocial factors, including stress and available support.