Wellbeing Is Not the Absence of Psychological Distress: A Longitudinal Descriptive Analysis in Early Adolescence

Abstract

Purpose: There is a growing consensus that combining measures of poor mental health with measures of mental wellbeing may aid in the development of effective early interventions. Methods: Participants (N = 136; 74 female), enrolled in the Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study (LABS) between July 2018 and January 2025, completed up to four timepoints over 12 months, between the ages of 12 and 14 years (411 datasets). Groups were created based on ‘moderate-high’ and ‘low’ levels of both wellbeing (measured using the Composure, Own-worth, Mastery, Positivity, Achievement and Satisfaction - Wellbeing scale; COMPAS-W), and psychological distress (measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress scale; K10). Results: Four groups were identified, “Flourishing high distress” (n = 45; 24 female), “Flourishing low distress” (n = 44; 22 female), “Languishing high distress” (n = 37; 27 female), and “Languishing low distress” (n = 10, one female). Chi-square analyses found significant sex differences in wellbeing-distress profiles (p < 0.001). Discussion: This longitudinal, descriptive study of early adolescents highlights their complex mental health experience. Adolescents who are flourishing but have high distress appear to be common and represent a potentially unrecognized subgroup susceptible to future mental health problems, warranting specific early interventions.