The Dual-Factor Model of Mental Health

Abstract

Consistent with a positive psychology framework, this study examined the contributions of personality, environmental, and perceived social support variables in classifying adolescents using Greenspoon and Saklofske’s Dual-Factor model of mental health. This model incorporates information about positive subjective well-being (SWB), along with psychopathology (PTH), to identify four groups of adolescents: positive mental health (high SWB, low PTH), vulnerable (low SWB, low PTH), symptomatic but content (high SWB, high PTH) and troubled (low SWB, high PTH). Using multinomial logistic regression analyses, adolescents were accurately classified into the four groups above chance. The contribution of the personality, social support, and stressful life events variables differed across the groups. Differences in perceived parent social support statistically significantly differentiated (p < .05) the vulnerable and troubled groups from the positive mental health group. The experience of stressful life events significantly differentiated the troubled group from the positive mental health group. The personality characteristics of Extraversion and Neuroticism significantly differentiated symptomatic but content and troubled students from the positive mental health group. The study thus identified relatively malleable factors (e.g., parent support) that relate to optimal mental health.