Peer Support Is Associated With Better Mental Health Among Adolescents

PURPOSE: Peer support offered through sports participation or friend groups can protect against anxiety and depressive symptoms among youth. Sociodemographic factors (residence, sex, race or ethnicity) may also affect mental health outcomes. Tools such as the Area of Deprivation Index (ADI) are used to characterize socioeconomic conditions of a neighborhood. The association between these elements among adolescents remains unclear. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the associations between peer support and ADI with anxiety and depressive symptom severity among adolescents who do and do not play organized sports. METHODS: Adolescents (ages 13-18, athletes and non-athletes) were evaluated using: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global 25 v.1.1, Peer Relationships, and ADI (range 2-63; least to more disadvantaged). Anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D) sub-scales (range 0-20) were used. Multivariable linear regression models assessed the association between peer relationships and ADI with HADS. RESULTS: We enrolled 204 participants, and of these 195 completed all assessments (83% female, mean age = 16.1 ± 1.7 years old). Average peer relationship T-scores aligned with established normative data (mean = 49.9 ± 7.8). Higher peer relationship ratings were significantly associated with lower HADS-A and HADS-D scores, while history of anxiety or depression were associated with higher HADS-A and HADS-D scores (Table 1). ADI and sport participation were not significantly associated with HADS-A and HADS-D scores (Table 1). CONCLUSIONS: Youth with stronger peer relationships had significantly lower anxiety and depressive scores, while ADI and sport participation were not significantly associated with these mental health outcomes. Positive peer support, whether from sport participation or other peer groups, is associated with positive mental health among adolescents. Supported by: Denver Broncos Foundation