Storm and Stress 2.0? A Dual-Factor, Person-Centered Analysis of Adolescent Well-being Across Two Year 7 Cohorts and Gender

Abstract

Purpose: Concerns about the mental health and well-being of younger generations is a recurring theme across countries and time. Adolescence is debated as a period of volatility (“storm and stress”) or growth. Recent trends have reignited worries about youth mental health and well-being, particularly for females, and revived a deficit-based view of adolescence. To advance understanding, this study adopts a dual-factor approach that incorporates both negative and positive well-being domains. Mental health trends were compared across two grade-matched Australian adolescent cohorts assessed 5 years apart. Methods: Data were drawn from cross-sectional cohorts of year 7 students (12–13 years) in o..