The role of nursing in maintaining adolescent mental well-being : a mixed-methods study
Vloga zdravstvene nege pri krepitvi duševnega blagostanja mladostnikov : raziskava mešanih metod

english
slovenian

2026

volume 60, issue 2

health care   mental wellness   primary school students   secondary school students

Zbornica zdravstvene in babiške nege Slovenije - Zveza strokovnih društev medicinskih sester, babic in zdravstvenih tehnikov Slovenije
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

Introduction: Adolescents' mental well-being depends on the level of social support they receive from their family, peers, teachers, and healthcare professionals. Although nurses are often the first to recognise distress and provide support, their role in promoting adolescent mental health is often under-researched. This study examines the influence of social support on adolescent mental well-being, with particular emphasis on the role of nurses.Methods: A mixed methods approach was used. The quantitative part of the research involved the KIDSCREEN-27 and WEMWBS questionnaires administered to a randomly selected sample of 2,972 adolescents from primary and secondary schools in Slovenia. The qualitative part of the research involved a focus group with adolescents.Results: The findings indicate a significant positive correlation between adolescents' mental well-being and social support. Primary school adolescents identified parents as the most important individuals for their mental well-being, while secondary school adolescents placed greater importance on friends. Adolescents recognised nurses as trustworthy individuals who listen, offer advice, provide reassurance, and contribute to a sense of security and acceptance through their professional knowledge.Discussion and conclusion: The results confirm that nursing is an important part of the social support network for adolescents. Nurses, through their educational, therapeutic, and supportive roles, significantly contribute to strengthening mental health. Involving nurses in preventive and supportive programmes for adolescents is essential to developing a holistic approach to mental health

24.07.2026