Network analysis of loneliness, mental, and physical health in Czech adolescents.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The increasing urgency to address rising loneliness among adolescents has become a critical issue, underscoring the need for further studies on its association with mental and physical health. The objective was to examine the changes in loneliness and its relation to mental and physical health issues in three adolescent age groups.

Methods

A total sample of 14,588 Czech pupils (50.7% boys, mean age 13.6 ± 1.7 years) in grades 5, 7 and 9 was used from a representative dataset of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. The network analysis based on undirected graphical models was used as an exploratory technique to assess and test the structure of the data.

Results

The association between loneliness and health decreased with age. There was

SUBMITTER: Meier Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11954233 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature