Social and Environmental Determinants of Occupation: Population-Level Analysis of Adolescent Mental Health

Adolescents are experiencing unprecedented mental health challenges in the United States. This study investigated the relationships between social and environmental determinants of occupation (SEDO) and adolescent mental health at the population level. We quantitatively analyzed the National Cancer Institute’s Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) specialty cohort study sample (aged 12–17 years, n = 1,737, April-October 2014). Ordinal logistic regression models tested associations between SEDO factors and adolescent mental health. Analyses showed significant associations between SEDO (insufficient sleep, food insecurity, and access to social support) and mental health proxies (eating without hunger due to feeling anxious/nervous, eating without hunger due to feeling sad/depressed). This study provides an understanding of adolescents as a population experiencing mental health disparities related to SEDO. More research is needed to identify additional occupational therapy intervention targets and strategies for addressing SEDO at the population level.