While developmental studies predominantly investigated adolescents' mental illness and
psychosocial maladjustment, the present research focused on positive mental health of
Indian adolescents within the Mental Health Continuum model. Aims were to estimate
their prevalence of mental health and to examine its associations with mental distress and
psychosocial functioning, taking into account age and gender. A group of 539 students (age
13e18; 43.2% girls) in the National Capital Territory of Delhi completed Mental Health
Continuum Short Form, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales-21, Strengths and Difficulties
Questionnaire. Findings showed that 46.4% participants were flourishing, 51.2% were
moderately mentally healthy, and only 2.4% were languishing. A higher number of girls
and younger adolescents were flourishing compared to boys and older adolescents.
Moreover, flourishing youths reported lower prevalence of depression and adjustment
difficulties, and more prosocial behavior. Findings support the need to expand current
knowledge on positive mental health for well-being promotion in adolescence.
© 2015 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier