THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MENTAL HEALTH OF SLOVENIAN ADOLESCENTS AND THE SUPPORT OF THEIR VARIOUS PERSONAL SOCIAL NETWORKS

Abstract

Aim: To analyse the relationships between individual social networks and selected indicators of mental health among Slovenian adolescents aged 15 and 17. Methods: Data from the international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey in 2018 were used. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to calculate the reliability of the scales. Data were presented using descriptive statistics and frequency distributions. Differences between the two groups were determined using the chi-square or t-test. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to test the associations. Multiple linear regression was also used to explain adolescents’ mental health. Results: The mental health of adolescents is statistically significantly related to the experience of support in their social networks (p≤0.05). Adolescents with better mental health differ from those with poorer mental health in the degree to which they experience support from their social networks. Support from a greater number of social networks is statistically significantly associated with lower perceived stress and the risk of depression. In explaining adolescents’ good mental health, the support of the school environment, i.e. classmates and teachers, proved to be more important than the support of the family. Conclusions: The support of personal social networks is essential for good mental health in young people. In practice, it would be reasonable to strengthen the support of teachers and classmates, as the school environment proved to be a very important source of support at that age.