Indra Fajarwati Ibnu, Grestin Sandy

Enhancing Adolescent Mental Health Through Independence and Social Support

Introduction

Enhancing adolescent mental health through independence and social support. Study shows how adolescent independence and social support impact mental health and psychological distress. Self-efficacy is a key protective factor. Suggests school programs.

Abstract

Despite the growing recognition of adolescent mental health challenges, there is limited evidence on how adolescent independence and social support interact to influence psychological distress, highlighting the need for contextualized findings to guide mental health interventions. This study explores the relationship between adolescent independence, social support, and psychological distress levels in Makassar, Indonesia. A total of 300 students aged 15–18 years were selected using stratified random sampling. Data collection was performed using validated instruments measuring adolescent independence, social support, and psychological distress levels. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis (chi-square test), and multivariate analysis (logistic regression) to identify dominant factors influencing adolescent independence. Approximately 60% of adolescents reported high independence, while 75% experienced mild to moderate psychological distress. High social support was significantly associated with greater independence (p < 0.05). Self-efficacy emerged as a key protective factor against psychological distress. These findings underscore the importance of integrating social support and self-efficacy, building programs into school curricula to mitigate anxiety and depression among adolescents.

Review

This study addresses a critically important and timely topic: adolescent mental health, focusing on the interplay of independence and social support. The authors effectively highlight a significant gap in the literature regarding the interaction of these factors and the crucial need for contextualized evidence, particularly in regions like Makassar, Indonesia. By exploring these relationships within a specific cultural context, the research promises valuable insights that can directly inform region-specific mental health interventions, thereby contributing meaningfully to the field. The methodological approach appears sound, utilizing a stratified random sample of 300 adolescents aged 15-18 years, coupled with validated instruments for data collection. The application of descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis (chi-square), and multivariate analysis (logistic regression) provides a robust framework for identifying associations and dominant factors influencing the variables under investigation. Key findings reveal that a substantial proportion of adolescents experience mild to moderate psychological distress (75%), underscoring the urgency of the issue. Notably, high social support was significantly linked to greater independence, and critically, self-efficacy emerged as a potent protective factor against psychological distress. The implications drawn from this study are highly pertinent and actionable, advocating for the integration of social support and self-efficacy building programs into school curricula. This recommendation offers a clear pathway to mitigate anxiety and depression among adolescents, directly addressing the identified mental health challenges. While the abstract concisely presents important findings, future research could further elucidate the specific mechanisms through which social support fosters independence and self-efficacy acts as a buffer, potentially informing the nuances of intervention design and implementation across diverse cultural contexts beyond Makassar.

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