Community Belonging and Fourishing in Youth: Examining the Mediating Role of Coping Skills in Youth Across Ethnoracial Backgrounds.

Abstract

Objective: We examined the mediating role of positive coping skills in the relationship between community belonging and flourishing mental health among Canadian youth, while investigating variations across ethnoracial backgrounds.

Methods: Utilising data from the Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health Component 2012 cycle, we conducted a mediation analysis using a counterfactual framework on a nationally representative sample of 5,338 youth aged 15-29. The primary outcome, flourishing mental health, was measured using Keyes' Mental Health Continuum. The mediating effect of positive coping skills on the relationship between community belonging and mental health was quantified, and subgroup analyses to compare this relationship in two subgroups of youth identifying as White versus those who do not identify.

Results: Positive coping skills accounted for 13.9% of the mediation pathway from community belonging to flourishing mental health. Notably, youth who did not identify as White demonstrated a stronger association between community belonging and flourishing, with a comparatively smaller portion of their pathway mediated by positive coping. The total, direct, and indirect effects indicated a significant positive relationship between community belonging and positive mental health, mediated by positive coping skills.

Conclusion: Positive coping skills significantly mediated the relationship between community belonging and flourishing mental health in Canadian youth. However, the strength and nature of this relationship varied across ethnoracial backgrounds, suggesting a potential need for tailored interventions. These findings have implications for clinicians in adopting strategies that not only foster positive coping skills but also promote community engagement and respect for cultural diversity, thereby supporting the mental health of all youth in Canada.