Predictability of levels of physical and mental health in adults and adolescents: A 2 years longitudinal study

Abstract

Background: Comparative study at two years between adults and adolescents aimed at identifying the social, family, personality traits and health locus of control factors influencing physical and mental health, consumption of medications, and frequency of medical consultations. Method: Twenty participants (10 adults and 10 adolescents) were included in a two years long longitudinal study. At baseline, participants' age, gender, family composition, net income, chronic treatments, family dynamics (Family Adaptation and Cohesion Scale), Multidimensional Health Locus of Control, and personality (NEO Personality Inventory) were recorded. Every six months their state of mental and physical health (12 Survey Factors and Hamilton Depression Scale), consumption of medications and number of medical consultations were reassessed. Results: Age has a deleterious effect not only on physical health (r=-0.628*) but also on the frequency of depressive symptoms (r=0.576*). Adults are protected against the above effect by the number of people living in the same household (r=-0.588*). The ideal family or couple is more important than the actual family or couple. The higher these ideals, the healthier the adults (r=0.738*), and the less teenagers go to the doctors (r=-0.648*). Among adults, independence from others is correlated with good mental health (r=-0.829**) and among teens, ability to manage their wishes is positively correlated with good mental health (r=0.718**). Conclusion: Although different mechanisms determine adolescents and adults' levels of health, other common mechanisms involved include age and the need for love. The older we grow, the more our health tends to deteriorate; the more we dream of love, the more it improves. The differences depend on the place that is left to others. Among teenagers, the first factor pertains to how well they manage their own desires; among adults, what matters most is independence from others. © Medicinska naklada - Zagreb, Croatia