Impact of childhood maltreatment on adolescents’ mental health– a longitudinal study based on dual-factor model

The dual-factor model (DFM) of mental health has received increasing support in recent years. However, researchers have limited knowledge regarding the longitudinal changes in the DFM of mental health. This study considered the dual-factor mental health among adolescents using latent profile analysis (LPA). It explored the impact of childhood maltreatment on mental health using latent transition analysis (LTA). The sample comprised adolescents who reported depression, anxiety, and life satisfaction. An interpretable LTA solution identified three classes: flourishing, moderately mentally healthy, and troubled. The flourishing class displayed the most stable mental health, followed by the moderately mentally healthy class. The troubled class was the least stable. In examining the effects of maltreatment experiences, we found that previous physical neglect was a risk factor for suboptimal mental health. The study's findings emphasize the importance of regular monitoring of adolescents' dual-factor mental health to inform mental health promotion.