The Association between Loneliness, Mental Well-Being, and Self-Esteem among Adolescents in Four Nordic Countries

Nelli Lyyra, Einar Baldvin Thorsteinsson, Charli Eriksson, Katrine Rich Madsen, Asko Tolvanen, Petra Löfstedt and Raili Välimaa
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Nelli Lyyra: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Einar Baldvin Thorsteinsson: Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
Charli Eriksson: Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
Katrine Rich Madsen: The National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense, Denmark
Asko Tolvanen: Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Petra Löfstedt: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
Raili Välimaa: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-12

Abstract: Positive mental health is central to adolescent well-being. The present study examines the prevalence of loneliness and positive mental health indicators (mental well-being and self-esteem) in four Nordic countries and associations between loneliness, mental well-being, and high self-esteem. This study is based on data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study which was conducted in 2018 in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden. Participants were 5883 15-year-old boys and girls. To examine the associations between loneliness, mental well-being, and self-esteem, structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied. In the comparison of Nordic countries, the prevalence of loneliness was highest among Finnish and Icelandic adolescents. High mental well-being and high self-esteem were most prevalent in Denmark and Sweden. In general, boys scored higher on positive mental health indicators and girls on loneliness. Loneliness was also a strong indicator of low mental well-being and low self-esteem in all Nordic countries. Loneliness is not only associated with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, but it is also a risk factor for adolescents’ positive mental health. Positive mental health is important for healthy maturation and there is a need to develop initiatives to reduce adolescent loneliness and so support positive development.

Keywords: loneliness; positive mental health; mental well-being; self-esteem; adolescents; Nordic countries; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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