Mental health and resources in adolescents: A longitudinal cross-lagged panel analysis in out-of-home and biological families

This longitudinal study examines the reciprocal relationships between self-reported personal and contextual resources, mental health (internalising and externalising symptoms) and wellbeing in adolescents in out-of-home care (OOHC) compared to adolescents living with their biological families (BF). Data from two measurement points (T1, T2) were analysed using path models and multivariate analyses of variance. The results show stabilities of mental health over time in both groups, with wellbeing being less stable for adolescents in OOHC. Comparisons of different models with varying cross-lagged paths showed that the best model fit was found for the mental health-directed model, in which higher personal resources at T1 predicted significantly higher wellbeing scores in both groups at T2. In the OOHC group, higher personal resources at T1 were also associated with lower externalising symptoms at T2. Furthermore, the placement type (OOHC vs BF) proved to be a significant moderator. Adolescents in OOHC reported significantly fewer personal resources and more externalising symptoms. The findings emphasise the preventative importance of personal resources and argue for resource-oriented interventions, especially for at-risk adolescents in OOHC. In the long term, stable, validating care environments could promote the development of personal resources and encourage good mental health.