A review on children and adolescents’ mental health indicators: Towards a valid mental health assessment in Hungarian youth

Abstract

The application of appropriate qualitative and quantitative indicators of youth’s mental health is vital for the entire health care system, including the individuals, health care providers, and health policy. These can enable both researchers and policymakers to carry out comparisons across time, interindividual differences and culture. In our scoping review, we aimed to identify psychological, social and systemrelated indicators that can provide direct and indirect information regarding Hungarian youth’s mental health status. Additionally, we focused on providing a model regarding mental health evaluation measures, comparable to the international models. To determine the indicators of mental health, international and Hungarian literature was reviewed through primary and secondary sources. During the analysis, the following databases were searched: ERIC, Google Scholar, MedLine, Pubmed, ResearchGate and Science Direct. A total of 76 papers met the criteria, containing 38 Hungarian studies and 38 international ones. The review revealed that, similar to the international trends, the Hungarian assessment of positive (e.g., satisfaction with life, aspiration index, social support, coping skills, health-preserving behavior), negative (e.g., emotional symptoms, social difficulties, sadness, depression, anxiety) and other mental health indicators (e.g., alcohol abuse, drug-related disorders, suicide, bullying,) can be measured by standardized, validated tests. The indicators identified in the current review can support professionals and policymakers to systematically improve the quality of health care. With the use of appropriate indicators, more accurate results concerning the current mental health status of the children and youth can be provided, which would enable more effective prevention and intervention in the health care system and related domains.