This study examined the association and directionality of effect between mental wellbeing and depressive symptoms in Australian adolescents. Data were collected on two occasions 21 months apart. At Time 1, 1,762 10- to 14-year-old adolescents from a range of socio-economic status areas participated. At Time 2 (T2), 1,575 participated again. On both occasions, the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS) and the Children's Depression Inventory 2 (CDI 2) were administered via online survey. Cross-lagged, longitudinal path analyses demonstrated a negative association between earlier symptoms of depression and later positive mental wellbeing, and that the reverse was also true, though weaker. The model accounted for 20% of the variance in males’ T2 CDI 2 depressive symptom scores (26% for females) and 21% of the variance in males’ T2 SWEMWBS mental wellbeing scores (23% for females). Depressive symptomatology and mental wellbeing were highly correlated, but symptoms of depression were more strongly associated with later mental wellbeing than vice versa. This has implications for educational psychologists, teachers, health professionals, and policy makers seeking to reduce depressive symptoms or promote mental wellbeing. Focusing solely on the promotion of mental wellbeing, without intervening to reduce symptoms of depression, may limit the potential outcomes that might be achieved.

中文翻译：

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澳大利亚青少年积极心理健康与抑郁症状之间的关联

本研究调查了澳大利亚青少年心理健康与抑郁症状之间的关联和影响的方向性。数据收集两次，相隔 21 个月。在时间 1，来自不同社会经济地位领域的 1,762 名 10 至 14 岁青少年参加了。在时间 2 (T2)，1,575 人再次参加。在这两种情况下，简短的沃里克-爱丁堡心理健康量表 (SWEMWBS) 和儿童抑郁量表 2 (CDI 2) 都是通过在线调查进行的。交叉滞后的纵向路径分析表明，早期的抑郁症状与后来的积极心理健康之间存在负相关，反之亦然，尽管较弱。该模型解释了男性 T2 CDI 2 抑郁症状评分方差的 20%（女性为 26%）和男性 T2 SWEMWBS 心理健康评分方差的 21%（女性为 23%）。抑郁症状与心理健康高度相关，但抑郁症状与后期心理健康的相关性更强，反之亦然。这对寻求减少抑郁症状或促进心理健康的教育心理学家、教师、卫生专业人员和政策制定者具有重要意义。只专注于促进心理健康，而不进行干预以减轻抑郁症的症状，可能会限制可能实现的潜在结果。但抑郁症状与后期心理健康的关联性更强，反之亦然。这对寻求减少抑郁症状或促进心理健康的教育心理学家、教师、卫生专业人员和政策制定者具有重要意义。只专注于促进心理健康，而不进行干预以减轻抑郁症的症状，可能会限制可能实现的潜在结果。但抑郁症状与后期心理健康的关联性更强，反之亦然。这对寻求减少抑郁症状或促进心理健康的教育心理学家、教师、卫生专业人员和政策制定者具有重要意义。只专注于促进心理健康，而不进行干预以减轻抑郁症的症状，可能会限制可能实现的潜在结果。