Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41572343›Full record

ArticleChild and adolescent psychiatry and mental health2026

Loneliness and adolescent mental health: a multilevel examination of socio-ecological factors across Czech schools.

Zdenek Meier, Jakub Helvich, Lukas Novak, Jana Furstova, Vendula Machu, Lukas Vagner, Peter Tavel

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Zdenek MeierOlomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University in Olomouc, Univerzitni 244/22, Olomouc, 771 11, Czech Republic. zdenek.meier@oushi.upol.cz.
Jakub HelvichOlomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University in Olomouc, Univerzitni 244/22, Olomouc, 771 11, Czech Republic.
Lukas NovakOlomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University in Olomouc, Univerzitni 244/22, Olomouc, 771 11, Czech Republic.
Jana FurstovaOlomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University in Olomouc, Univerzitni 244/22, Olomouc, 771 11, Czech Republic.
Vendula MachuOlomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University in Olomouc, Univerzitni 244/22, Olomouc, 771 11, Czech Republic.
Lukas VagnerOlomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University in Olomouc, Univerzitni 244/22, Olomouc, 771 11, Czech Republic.
Peter TavelOlomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University in Olomouc, Univerzitni 244/22, Olomouc, 771 11, Czech Republic.

Funding

EFRR/ESF CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004583
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdolescent loneliness and mental health have become escalating public health concerns. However, despite previous findings, research on how the school environment influences the relationship between loneliness and mental health remains scarce.

objectivesTherefore, the objectives of this study are to identify key socio-ecological factors associated with adolescent mental health, examine the gender differences in socio-ecological factors and investigate whether the association between loneliness and mental health varies across individual schools.

methodsData were drawn from the 2021/22 Czech dataset of the HBSC study, comprising 14,588 Czech adolescents aged 11-15 years old. Descriptive statistics and gender comparisons were conducted, followed by multilevel linear regression analyses accounting for the hierarchical structure of the data (students nested within schools). The nested models examined associations between mental health and key predictors using random intercepts and random slopes.

resultsBoys reported better mental health, higher life satisfaction, stronger self-rated health and lower loneliness than girls. Boys also experienced better family support, communication and more frequent family meals. Girls reported more peer support, stronger preferences for online communication and greater academic pressure. Mental health was positively associated with family and health-related variables, and negatively with loneliness, bullying and academic stress. The relationship between loneliness and mental health was consistent across schools, with minimal variation attributable to school-level factors.

conclusionsWhile gender-based differences were observed, loneliness consistently showed a strong negative association with mental health for boys and girls. These findings emphasise the central role of individual and family-related factors in adolescent mental health. They also suggest that in more structurally and culturally homogeneous educational systems, school-level differences in mental health may be limited, with wider socioeconomic and cultural influences operating relatively uniformly across schools. This underscores the importance of system-wide and family-focused approaches as well as national school-based programmes.

Indexed as

AdolescentsHBSCLonelinessMental healthSchool variance

Identifiers

PMID41572343
PMCPMC12911054

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LicenceCC BY
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.