Assessing Adolescents' Attitudes Toward Psychological Health: Cognitive, Emotional, and Behavioral Indicators

Authors

  • Oksana Mykolaivna Chaikovska Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor, Associate Professor at the Department of General and Practical Psychology, Kamianets-Podilskyi Ivan Ohiienko National University, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine
  • Liudmyla Pylypivna Melnyk Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, Associate Professor at the Department of Social Work, Kamianets-Podilskyi Ivan Ohiienko National University, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine
  • Lyubov Ivanivna Kuzo Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Language Skills Training, Lviv State University of Internal Affairs, Lviv, Ukraine
  • Oksana Leonidivna Khrystuk PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor, Associate Professor at the Department of General and Social Psychology, Educational and Scientific Institute of Management, Psychology and Security, Lviv State University of Internal Affairs, Lviv, Ukraine
  • Nataliia Serhiivna Hevchuk PhD in Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Social Work, Kamianets Podilskyi Ivan Ohiienko National University, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18662/rrem/17.4/1046

Keywords:

psychological health, adolescents, cognitive component, emotional component, behavioural component, emotional stability

Abstract

Adolescents today face increasing psychological challenges due to modern societal stressors, including uncertainty about the future, heightened anxiety, and emotional instability. These issues adversely affect their adaptability, self-regulation, and overall mental well-being. This study aims to identify key criteria and indicators that reflect adolescents' attitudes toward psychological health and assess their awareness of its significance. The research involved 112 students from Kamianets-Podilskyi Lyceums №1, №3, and №5. A multi-method approach was applied, including literature analysis, observation, questionnaires, interviews, and psychometric tools. Core evaluation criteria included cognitive (knowledge and values), emotional (self-assessment of mental states), and behavioral (healthy habits and risk avoidance) components. Findings indicate that adolescents' understanding of psychological health is often superficial, with many equating it solely to physical well-being. Emotional assessments revealed frequent signs of tension and instability, pointing to difficulties in self-regulation. Behaviorally, students showed limited motivation for personal growth and commonly practiced harmful habits, such as irregular sleep and excessive use of digital devices. Statistical analysis confirmed significant correlations between cognitive, emotional, and behavioral factors, highlighting their interdependence. Adolescents with greater cognitive awareness tended to demonstrate better emotional control and healthier behaviors. Overall, the study concludes that adolescents’ attitudes toward psychological health are insufficiently developed across all examined dimensions. These results emphasize the need for holistic educational and psychological interventions aimed at fostering a more comprehensive and balanced understanding of psychological well-being among youth.

References

Beauchaine, T. P., & Cicchetti, D. (2019). Emotion dysregulation and emerging psychopathology: A transdiagnostic, transdisciplinary perspective. Development and Psychopathology, 31(3), 799–804. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579419000671

Beauchaine, T. P., Zisner, A. R., & Sauder, C. L. (2017). Trait impulsivity and the externalizing spectrum. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 13, 343–368. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-021815-093253

Bennett, M., & Sani, F. (2008). Children's subjective identification with social groups. In S. R. Levy & M. Killen (Eds.), Intergroup attitudes and relations in childhood through adulthood (pp. 19–31). Oxford University Press. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2008-04873-002

Bondarchuk, О., & Pinchuk, N. (2023). Psychological health of personality: the essence, indicators, conditions of support and recovery during the war and in the post-war period. Bulletin of Postgraduate Education (Social and Behavioral Sciences Series. Psychological, economics, public administration), 25. 28-43. https://doi.org/10.58442/2522-9931-2023-25(54)-28-43

Carter, A. (2019). The consequences of adolescent delinquent behavior for adult employment outcomes. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48(1), 17–29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0934-2

Crowell, S. E., Beauchaine, T. P., & Linehan, M. M. (2009). A biosocial developmental model of borderline personality: Elaborating and extending Linehan’s theory. Psychological Bulletin, 135(3), 495–510. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015616

David, D., Lynn, S. J., & Ellis, A. (2009). Rational and irrational beliefs: Research, theory, and clinical practice. Oxford University Press.

Engel, G. L. (1977). The need for a new medical model: a challenge for biomedicine. Science (New York, N.Y.), 196(4286), 129–136. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.847460

Essadek, A., Musso, M., Assous, A., Widart, F., Mathieu, J., Robin, M., & Shadili, G. (2023). Alcohol and psychoactive substance use in a cohort of children followed by child protection in France. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1180292. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1180292

Farrell, A. D., Dunn, C. B., & O’Connor, K. E. (2024). Profiles of risk and promotive factors associated with aggression and other problem behaviors among middle school students in an urban school system. Journal of Early Adolescence, 45(3), 309–340. https://doi.org/10.1177/02724316241249484

Giroux, S., & Guay, M. C. (2021). Assessing the contribution of callous–unemotional traits and affective empathy to aggressive behaviour among teenagers hosted in a youth protection centre. Psychology, Crime & Law, 28(5), 511–522. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2021.1929977

Harkavenko N. V., & Sobkova S. I. (2019). Komponenty psykhichnoho i psykholohichnoho zdorovia pidlitka yak chynnyky yoho osobystisnoho zdorovia. [The components of teenager’s mental and psyhologiocal health as the basic factors of personal well-being]. Teoriia ta praktyka suchasnoi psykholohii, 6(2), 27-31. https://doi.org/10.32840/2663-6026.2019.6-2.5

Harter, S. (2012). The construction of the self: developmental and sociocultural foundations (2nd ed.). New York & London: The Guilford Press

Iorio, M., Casini, E., Damiani, S., Fusar-Poli, P., Borgatti, R., & Mensi, M. M. (2022). Perceived family functioning profile in adolescents at clinical high risk for psychosis: Rigidity as a possible preventive target. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 861201. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.861201

Kharchenko, A. S. (2017). Psykholohichni osoblyvosti tsinnisnoho stavlennia do zdorovia suchasnykh pidlitkiv. [Psychological features of value attitude to health of modern adolescents]. Psychology and Personality, 1(11), 174–181. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.260201

Kichuk, A. V. (2019). Psykholohichne zdorovia osobystosti yak tsinnist i predmet suchasnoho psykholohichnoho znannia. [Psychological health of personality as a value and subject of modern psychological knowledge]. Naukovyi Visnyk Khersonskoho Derzhavnoho Universytetu. Seriya: Psykholohichni Nauky, (1), 36–40. https://doi.org/10.32999/ksu2312-3206/2019-1-5

Koshova, I. V., & Kresan, O. D. (2021). Psykholohiia deviantnoi povedinky: Navchalno-metodychnyi posibnyk [Psychology of deviant behavior: A textbook]. Nizhyn Mykola Gogol State University Publishing House. http://www.ndu.edu.ua/storage/2021/zahal_psy_lib/%D0%9C%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%95%D0%A2_%D0%9F%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%85_%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%B2_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B2.pdf

Lee, S., Kwak, H. J., Ahn, U. K., Kim, K. M., & Lim, M. H. (2023). Effect of group sand play therapy on psychopathologies of adolescents with delinquent behaviors. Medicine, 102(40), e35445. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000035445

Lemak, M. V., & Petryshche, V. Yu. (Eds.). (2012). Psikhologu dlia roboty. Diahnostychni metodyky [Diagnostic methods for psychologists at work] (2nd ed., revised). Uzhhorod: Oleksandra Harkusha Publishing. https://lib.khmnu.edu.ua/fond/NOV/new_04_2018/454813.pdf

Martínez-Velázquez, E. S., Ponce-Juárez, S. P., Díaz Furlong, A., & Sequeira, H. (2024). Cooperative behavior in adolescents: A contribution of empathy and emotional regulation? Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1342458. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1342458

McKay, S. L., Fouladirad, S., & Cameron, C. A. (2021). The Frustration Social Stressor for Adolescents (FSS-A): A newly adapted psychosocial stressor. Stress and Health, 37(4), 715–728. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3029

Maksymenko, S. D., & Hryshko, O. D. (2024). Psykhichnyi suprovid i psykhichne zdorovia: Posibnyk dlia vyshchykh navchalnykh zakladiv [Mental support and mental health: A textbook for higher education institutions]. Liudmyla Publishing House. https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/741253/1/%D0%9F%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%85%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B3%D1%96%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D1%81%D1%83%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%96%D0%B4%20%D0%A2%D0%9E%D0%9C%202_%40%23.pdf

Moskalenko, O. V., & Blokhina, I. O. (2022). On the problem of studying psychological health of personality. Scientific Notes of V.I. Vernadsky Taurida National University. Series: Psychology, 33(72)(2), 92–96. https://doi.org/10.32838/2709-3093/2022.2/15

Mróz, A., & Ocetkiewicz, I. (2024). Anticipatory thinking as a key competence in management for sustainability: The results of research among Polish teenagers. Sustainability, 16(22), 10036. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162210036

Nicolini, P., Abbate, C., Inglese, S., Mari, D., Rossi, P. D., & Cesari, M. (2021). Socially desirable responding in geriatric outpatients with and without mild cognitive impairment and its association with the assessment of self-reported mental health. BMC Geriatrics, 21(1), 494. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02435-z

Padgaonkar, N. T., Baker, A. E., Dapretto, M., Galván, A., Frick, P. J., Steinberg, L., & Cauffman, E. (2021). Exploring disproportionate minority contact in the juvenile justice system over the year following first arrest. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 31(2), 317-334. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12599

Pasichnyk, L. (2024). Psykholohichni osoblyvosti povedinky osobystosti z riznymy adyktsiiamy [Psychological peculiarities of behaviour of a person with various addictions]. Psychological Prospects Journal, (43), 143–160. https://doi.org/10.29038/2227-1376-2024-43-pas

Piaget, J. (1972). Intellectual evolution from adolescence to adulthood. Human Development, 15, 1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000271225

Rosenstock, I. M. (1974) Historical origins of the health belief model. Health Education Monographs, 2, 328-335. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019817400200403

Ruggery, K., Garcia-Garzon, E., Maguire, A., Matz, S., & Hupert, F. A. (2020). Well-being is more than happiness and life satisfaction: A multidimensional analyses of 21 countries. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 18, 192–198. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-020-01423-y

Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. L. M. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 719–727. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.69.4.719

Saveliuk, N. (2022). Psykholohichne blahopoluchchia studentskoi molodi: porivnialnyi analiz u kovidnomu i voiennomu kontekstakh [Psychological well-being of student youth: Comparative analysis in the COVID and war contexts]. Psychological Prospects Journal, (39), 322-340. https://doi.org/10.29038/2227-1376-2022-39-sav

Shams, L., Shafiei, F., & Sadremomtaz, Z. (2024). The social and environmental factors impacting the motivation of adolescents for weight control, why and how? A qualitative study. BMC Nutrition, 10(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-024-00822-4

Smárason, Ó., Skarphedinsson, G., & Storch, E. A. (2024). Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 47(2), 311–323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2024.02.002

Steinberg, L., & Morris, A. (2001). Adolescent development. Annual review of psychology, 52(1), 83-110. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.83

Takagaki, K., Yokoyama, S., & Kambara, K. (2021). Do self-compassion factors affect value-based behavior promotion for adolescents? The context of behavioral activation. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 566181. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.566181

Teh, W. L., Abdin, E., PV, A., Siva Kumar, F. D., Roystonn, K., Wang, P., ... & Subramaniam, M. (2023). Measuring social desirability bias in a multi-ethnic cohort sample: its relationship with self-reported physical activity, dietary habits, and factor structure. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 415. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15309-3

Tytarenko, T. M. (2018). Psykholohichne zdorovia osobystosti: zasoby samodopomohy v umovakh tryvaloi travmatyzatsii [Psychological health of the individual: Means of self-help in conditions of prolonged traumatization]. Kropyvnytskyi: Imeks-LTD. 160s. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/160006893.pdf

Üstündağ, A. (2024). The mediating effect of adolescents’ emotional regulation strategies on their psychological resilience. Psychology in the Schools, 61(12), 4569–4588. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.23300

Vlasenko, I. A., Furman, V. V., Reva, O. M., & Kanyuka, I. O. (2022). Psykholohichne zdorovia studentskoi molodi [Psychological health of student youth]. Vinnytsia, Ukraine: Tvory. https://elibrary.kubg.edu.ua/id/eprint/41404

Watanabe, K., Kawakami, N., & Nishi, D. (2020). Association between personal values in adolescence and mental health and well-being in adulthood: A cross-cultural study of working populations in Japan and the United States. Annals of General Psychiatry, 19, 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-020-0260-4

Yevtushenko, I. V. (2023). Psychological health: Concepts, criteria, and levels. Visnyk Pisladyplomnoi Osvity, 25(54), 56–66. https://doi.org/10.58442/2522-9931-2023-25(54)56-69

Yılmaz, A., & Duyan, V. (2024). The impact of social work practice with groups on adolescents’ delinquent behaviors at school: An experimental study from Turkey. Children and Youth Services Review, 165, 107889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107889

Downloads

Published

2025-12-18

How to Cite

Chaikovska, O. M., Melnyk, L. P., Kuzo, L. I., Khrystuk, O. L., & Hevchuk, N. S. (2025). Assessing Adolescents’ Attitudes Toward Psychological Health: Cognitive, Emotional, and Behavioral Indicators. Revista Romaneasca Pentru Educatie Multidimensionala, 17(4), 40-64. https://doi.org/10.18662/rrem/17.4/1046

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 4 (2025): Revista Romaneasca pentru Educatie Multidimensionala

Section

Psycho-Social Competencies & Educational Strategies

License

Copyright (c) 2025 The Authors & InManifest Network

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  • Authors retain copyright and grant this journalright of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work, with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g. post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g. in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as an earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).

Revista Romaneasca pentru Educatie Multidimensionala Journal has an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs
CC BY-NC-ND

CC_BY_NC_ND