Mental wellbeing of higher education students in challenging times.

Objective: Student age and starting higher education require adaptation to a new physical and psychosocial environment, making the time of studies a highly sensitive period. Current and future generations of students are also likely to face additional global stressors, which potentially exacerbate their mental wellbeing. The aim of the study was to investigate how higher education students' appraisal of the COVID-19 pandemic situation and of their personal resources predict mental wellbeing (anxiety and curiosity).

Validation of Rosenberg self-esteem scale among Norwegian adolescents - psychometric properties across samples.

Background: Self-esteem refers to the evaluative and affective dimensions of the self-concept and is important for positive mental health and overall functioning during adolescence. The Rosenberg Self-esteem scale (RSES) is one of the most frequently used and widely accepted instruments assessing self-esteem; however, the psychometric properties of the instrument have not been investigated in a Norwegian adolescent population. The present study's aim is to investigate the factor structure, construct validity and reliability of the RSES among adolescents 14-21 years.

Nursing Students' Experiences on Psychosocial Learning Environment, Personal and Social Challenges and Communication in Periods of Social Isolation: A Qualitative Study.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the global COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and the Norwegian government declared lockdown to stop the virus from spreading. In Norway, universities were immediately closed, and all teaching and learning were done digitally for the rest of the spring semester 2020. Our aim was to explore nursing students experience with studying and learning, as well as the psychological consequences it may incur during a period of social isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.

Loneliness in the Norwegian adolescent population: prevalence trends and relations to mental and self-rated health.

Background: Loneliness has become a significant public health problem and should be addressed with more research over a broader period. This study investigates the variations in the prevalence of loneliness among a nationally representative study population of Norwegian adolescents over the last three decades and whether age, gender, self-rated health, and mental distress are associated with these changes.

Methods: Adolescents aged 13-19 years completed the structured and validated questionnaires from the three waves of the Young-HUNT Study: 1995-1997, 2006-2008, and 2017-2019.

The Role of Stress Experience and Demographic Factors for Satisfaction with Life in Norwegian Adolescents: Cross-Sectional Trends over a Ten-Year Period.

Background: The individual's perception of life satisfaction (LS) is regarded as a key indicator of one's overall experience of wellbeing, sensitive to the broad spectrum of functioning. Adolescence is particularly an important period for assessing LS and factors associating with LS. The present study investigated cross-sectional trends in adolescents' LS levels across three time points over a 10-year period, as well as the role of stress experience and socio-demographic differences in association with LS.

Validation of the brief instrument "Health Literacy for School-Aged Children" (HLSAC) among Norwegian adolescents.

Health literacy (HL) has been identified as an important and modifiable determinant of health. To succeed in promoting HL, it is crucial to evaluate interventions addressing HL using validated instruments. However, HL measurement is an under-researched area among adolescents.

Impact of resilience and social support on long-term grief in cancer-bereaved siblings: an exploratory study.

Background: Bereavement research has mainly explored potential risk factors associated with adverse outcomes, and the role of protective factors has received less attention. More knowledge is needed about factors related to unresolved grief in bereaved siblings. This study aimed to assess grief adjustment and possible gender differences among bereaved young adults 2-10 years after losing a brother or sister to cancer.

Association between loneliness, self-esteem and outcome of life satisfaction in Norwegian adolescents aged 15-21.

Aims: Adolescence is an important developmental stage for understanding the role of perceived loneliness and self-esteem on life satisfaction. This study investigated the association between loneliness, self-esteem and the outcome of life satisfaction, as well as potential interaction effects in association with life satisfaction, in a sample of Norwegian adolescents.

Methods: The study was based on a cross-sectional sample of 1816 adolescents aged 15-21 years.

Bereaved parents' quality of life: resilience and professional support.

Objectives: The study aimed to compare the quality of life (QoL) among cancer-bereaved parents with a control group and explore how resilience and support from healthcare professionals associated with QoL of parents 2-8 years after the loss of a child to cancer.

Methods: This nationwide, cross-sectional survey was administered among parents (n=161) who lost their child to cancer between 2009 and 2014, compared with a matched control parent group (n=77). A study-specific questionnaire, Resilience Scale for Adults (six factors: 'Perception of self', 'Planned future', 'Social competence', 'Structured style', 'Family cohesion' and 'Social resources'), and a single-item measure of parents' QoL were included for the study.

Protective and risk factors associated with psychological distress in cancer-bereaved parents: A cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Research shows that knowledge about mental health status, both protective and risk factors, is limited in cancer-bereaved parents. The study aimed to investigate (1) the extent of psychological distress in bereaved parents 2-8 years after the loss of a child to cancer compared to non-bereaved parents, and (2) psychological distress in association with resilience, the extent of having coped with the grief, time since the loss, and past psychological distress in cancer-bereaved parents.

Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study.

The role of perceived loneliness and sociodemographic factors in association with subjective mental and physical health and well-being in Norwegian adolescents.

Aims: Adolescence is a particularly salient period for understanding the role of perceived loneliness for subjective health and well-being. This study investigated sociodemographic differences (sex, age, self-reported socio-economic status (SES)) in loneliness and associations between sociodemographic factors, loneliness and self-rated health (SRH), subjective health symptoms, symptoms of depression/anxiety and mental well-being (MWB) in a sample of Norwegian adolescents.

Methods: The study was based on a cross-sectional sample of 1816 adolescents aged 15-21 years.

Bullying, social support and adolescents' mental health: Results from a follow-up study.

The aim of this study was to examine the predictive roles of being bullied and perceived social support in association with adolescents' mental health. At two time points, September 2016 and April-June 2017, questionnaires were distributed to students between 15 and 21 years of age in four upper-secondary schools in Norway, with a total sample size of 351. Random- and fixed-effects regression models were used to estimate the effects of being bullied and social support on adolescents' mental health.

Sense of Coherence in Association with Stress Experience and Health in Adolescents.

This study investigated the associations between sex, age, socio-economic status, stress, sense of coherence (SOC), and health (mental wellbeing, depressive symptoms, self-rated health, and subjective health complaints) in Norwegian adolescents aged 13-19 years. Furthermore, the study investigated the potential protective or compensatory role from SOC on the association between stress and health. The study was based on a cross-sectional sample of 1233 adolescents.

Resilience as a predictive factor towards a healthy adjustment to grief after the loss of a child to cancer.

Introduction: Grief among bereaved parents is known to cause psychological distress and physical illness, but knowledge concerning factors that can contribute to health promotion after bereavement is scarce. Childhood cancer remains the most common non-accidental cause of death among children in Norway. The aim of the present study was to explore if resilience factors among cancer-bereaved parents could predict whether they will be able to come to terms with their grief 2-8 years following the loss.

Exploring MEST: a new universal teaching strategy for school health services to promote positive mental health literacy and mental wellbeing among Norwegian adolescents.

Background: Mental health among adolescents is an important public health challenge. School health services perform central public health functions in Norwegian municipalities, where school nurses are uniquely positioned to educate and promote mental health among adolescents. MEST (MEST is not an acronym; MEST is a short version of the Norwegian word for coping) is a newly developed universal working strategy for school health services that aims to promote positive mental health literacy (MHL) and mental wellbeing in the adolescent population.

Life satisfaction in association with self-efficacy and stressor experience in adolescents - self-efficacy as a potential moderator.

Aim: This paper reports associations among socio-demographic variables, stressor experience, self-efficacy and life satisfaction among Norwegian adolescents aged 15-21 years and the potential moderating role of self-efficacy on the association between stressor experience and life satisfaction.

Methods: The cross-sectional school-based survey study involved 1816 upper-secondary school students from Mid-Norway. Data were analysed with independent samples t test, Pearson's product moment correlation and multiple linear regression analysis.

Validation of two versions of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale among Norwegian adolescents.

Aim: This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the original 14-item version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) and the short 7-item version (SWEMWBS) to validate these scales for use among Norwegian adolescents.

Method: Cross-sectional data were collected by distributing questionnaires among students in five upper secondary schools in Norway with a net sample of n = 1814. Exploratory- and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and a reliability analysis were conducted and possible floor and ceiling effects were examined to evaluate the scales.

The Relationship Between Positive Mental Health Literacy and Mental Well-Being Among Adolescents: Implications for School Health Services.

Mental health education is a central part of school nurses' practice. Mental health literacy is an asset for health that educational initiatives can strengthen, and a significant determinant of mental health. This study was intended to examine the relationship between positive mental health literacy (PMeHL) and mental well-being to discuss its implications for school health services' mental health education.

Positive mental health literacy: development and validation of a measure among Norwegian adolescents.

Background: Mental health literacy (MHL), or the knowledge and abilities necessary to benefit mental health, is a significant determinant of mental health and has the potential to benefit both individual and public mental health. MHL and its measures have traditionally focused on knowledge and beliefs about mental -ill-health rather than on mental health. No measures of MHL addressing knowledge of good or positive mental health have been identified.

The association between stress, resilience, and emotional symptoms in Norwegian adolescents from 13 to 18 years old.

This study investigated associations between stress, resilience factors, and symptoms of depression and anxiety in a cross-sectional sample of 1183 adolescents 13-18 years old. The results showed a positive significant association between stress and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Personal competence was significantly negatively associated with depression and anxiety, whereas social support was significantly negatively associated with anxiety.

Validation of the Resilience Scale for Adolescents in Norwegian adolescents 13-18 years.

Aim: Resilience is seen as a vital resource for coping and mental health in adolescents. However, there is no universally accepted theory or definition of resilience, leading to considerable challenges regarding how to operationalise and measure this construct. The study aimed at providing further knowledge of the psychometric properties (dimensionality, construct validity and internal consistency) of the 28-item version of the Resilience Scale for Adolescents (READ) in N = 1183 Norwegian adolescents, 13-18 years old.

Stress, sense of coherence and subjective health in adolescents aged 13-18 years.

Background: This study investigated the relationships between sex, age, stress and sense of coherence (SOC) and each of self-rated health (SRH) and subjective health complaints (SHCs) in adolescents.

Methods: The study was based on a cross-sectional sample of 1239 adolescents aged 13-18 years. The participants reported scores on a questionnaire, including 12 items assessing SHC, the 13-item version of the Orientation to Life Questionnaire and the 30-item Adolescent Stress Questionnaire.