Antecedent Mechanisms Influencing the Development of Adolescent Mental Health

Abstract

Adolescent mental health is influenced by the complex interplay of multiple factors across individual, family, school, and societal contexts. Drawing upon ecosystem theory, this paper systematically examines the antecedent mechanisms affecting adolescent psychological well-being, encompassing personality traits (such as the Big Five and Dark Personality traits), family factors (including parental psychological control and parent-child relationships), school environments (such as teacher-student relationships and peer bullying), and social factors (including social media usage and internet addiction). Research demonstrates that these factors significantly influence adolescents’ emotional regulation, social adaptation, and overall psychological health through various pathways. Future research should prioritize investigating the dynamic interactions between individuals and their surrounding environments, the long-term impacts of social media use, cross-cultural differences, and multidisciplinary integration approaches. Such investigations will contribute to theoretical advancement and inform evidence-based intervention strategies for promoting adolescent mental health.