Association between third places and behavioral problems among adolescents: A cross-sectional study

A third place is a location other than home or school/work. Most studies investigating third places have focused on adults of various ages, leaving a gap in the understanding of how third places affect adolescents’ mental health. This study investigated the relationship between the availability of a third place and behavioral problems in adolescents. a nd Setting : Participants comprised parents of Japanese eighth graders aged 13–14 years ( n = 540). The presence of a third place and behavioral issues were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, which measures emotional symptoms, peer relationship problems, conduct problems, and hyperactivity. Of the 540 reports, 369 (68.3%) indicated that children had a third place. T -tests comparing mean scores showed that the group without a third place scored significantly higher on emotional symptoms and peer relationship problems than the group with a third place. A logistic regression analysis was conducted using the inverse weight method with propensity scores. The explanatory variable was the presence of a third place, and the objective variable was the occurrence of behavioral problems. Propensity scores were calculated based on gender, family structure, household income, and parental education. The group with a third place scored significantly higher on behavioral problems and had a significantly lower risk of internalizing emotional symptoms and peer relationship problems than the group without such a place. Having access to a third place can significantly reduce the risk of problematic behaviors in adolescents. • We study the link between having third places and adolescents’ behavioral problems. • Parents of Japanese adolescents (13–14 years) completed questionnaires. • Approximately 68.3% (369/540) reported that the adolescents had a third place. • Having a third place significantly reduced the risk of behavioral problems.