Using Decision Trees to Examine Environmental and Behavioural Factors Associated with Youth Anxiety, Depression, and Flourishing

Katelyn Battista (), Karen A. Patte, Liqun Diao, Joel A. Dubin and Scott T. Leatherdale
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Katelyn Battista: School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Karen A. Patte: Department of Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
Liqun Diao: Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Joel A. Dubin: School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Scott T. Leatherdale: School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-16

Abstract: Modifiable environmental and behavioural factors influence youth mental health; however, past studies have primarily used regression models that quantify population average effects. Decision trees are an analytic technique that examine complex relationships between factors and identify high-risk subgroups to whom intervention measures can be targeted. This study used decision trees to examine associations of various risk factors with youth anxiety, depression, and flourishing. Data were collected from 74,501 students across Canadian high schools participating in the 2018–2019 COMPASS Study. Students completed a questionnaire including validated mental health scales and 23 covariates. Decision trees were grown to identify key factors and subgroups for anxiety, depression, and flourishing outcomes. Females lacking both happy home life and sense of connection to school were at greatest risk for higher anxiety and depression levels. In contrast with previous literature, behavioural factors such as diet, movement and substance use did not emerge as differentiators. This study highlights the influence of home and school environments on youth mental health using a novel decision tree analysis. While having a happy home life is most important in protecting against youth anxiety and depression, a sense of connection to school may mitigate the negative influence of a poor home environment.

Keywords: decision trees; mental health; youth; school climate; home environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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