Young people face unprecedented challenges, from academic pressures to social media influences. As a result, the concept of wellbeing has never been more crucial to both understand and put into practice.
But what exactly does wellbeing mean for today’s youth? It’s more than just feeling happy or having good physical health—it’s a complex interplay of factors that shape a young person’s overall quality of life.
By understanding the multifaceted nature of youth wellbeing, we can empower young people to thrive. From physical health to emotional resilience, from meaningful relationships to personal growth, wellbeing encompasses a holistic approach to living one’s life.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the key components of wellbeing for young people, exploring how physical health, mental and emotional wellness, social connections, academic pursuits, and environmental factors all contribute to a young person’s sense of wellbeing.
Wellbeing for young people encompasses a holistic state of physical, mental, and social health that allows them to thrive and reach their full potential. It’s not just about the absence of illness or problems, but rather a positive state of being that is not necessarily permanent, but provides a platform for a quicker recovery from inevitable bouts of difficulty and challenge.
For everyone in the UK, wellbeing involves a delicate balance of key factors that are intrinsic to their day-to-day lives. But for young people, this balance is even more unstable because they do not have the consistency of a more developed psychology.
Key areas for the development of wellbeing for young people include:
The PERMA model, developed by psychologist Martin Seligman, provides a comprehensive framework for understanding wellbeing. When applied to young people, it offers valuable insights into the key components of their overall wellness, and opportunities for the growth of their wellbeing holistically:
PERMA Element | Application to Youth Wellbeing |
---|---|
Positive Emotions | Experiencing pleasant emotions such as joy, gratitude, and optimism |
Engagement | Immersion in activities that challenge and excite |
Relationships | Building strong connections with family, friends, and mentors |
Meaning | Finding purpose and contributing to something greater than oneself |
Accomplishment | Achieving personal goals, developing skills |
By considering these elements, parents, educators, and youth workers can create environments and opportunities that foster comprehensive wellbeing for young people. This model emphasises the importance of a balanced approach, recognising that true wellbeing comes from nurturing all aspects of a young person’s life, not just focusing on one area.
So, with the PERMA model in mind, how can the wellbeing of young people be supported?
Physical health is a cornerstone of overall wellbeing for all. It encompasses various physiological benefits that contribute to a healthy body and mind – but it’s important to consider how physical health actually contributes to wellbeing. It’s not just due to the physical benefits themselves, but the opportunities to grow in the different PERMA areas that having a healthy and well-functioning body provides.
Regular physical activity and sleeping enough offer numerous immediate emotional, cognitive and physiological benefits. But how do these actually relate to greater wellbeing?
Let’s consider the opportunities offered to expand different areas of wellbeing outlined in the PERMA model through regular physical activity:
By being support to achieve these aspects of physical health, young people can build a strong foundation for overall wellbeing.
Mental and emotional wellbeing are crucial aspects of a young person’s overall health and development, but are perhaps one of the most difficult to nurture. As young individuals navigate through various life stages, it’s essential to focus on allowing their emotional intelligence to develop, equipping them with stress-management skills, and fostering self-esteem.
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise, understand, and manage one’s own emotions, as well as empathise with others.
For young people, developing this skill is a cornerstone of building authentic and meaningful relationships with others – two key areas of wellbeing as per the PERMA model. Furthermore, it can help them cope with the stress and anxiety.
In today’s fast-paced world, young people often face numerous stressors. Learning effective coping mechanisms is vital for maintaining mental health and promoting wellbeing. Some strategies include:
Considering the 5 facets of wellbeing described in the PERMA model, it becomes apparent how using these strategies to manage stress and anxiety can actually help a young person to cultivate wellbeing, rather than just avoid any distress.
When working through stress and anxiety, rather than battling with it and fuelling it to the point of overwhelm, young people can:
This allows them to nurture their relationships, find a sense of meaning in the growth that occurs as a result of the stress and anxiety, and develop a deep sense of accomplishment if able to be the person they want to be despite the difficulty.
By focusing on these aspects of mental and emotional wellbeing, young people can develop resilience and a positive outlook, setting the stage for a balanced and fulfilling sense of wellbeing.
Social connections and relationship are crucial when it comes to the positive development of young people. But there are different kinds of relationships that exist in a network, and it’s important to recognise how different roles can serve to support different areas of wellbeing, contributing to the overall wellbeing of a young person.
Friendships play a vital role in shaping a young person’s wellbeing because they provide a wealth of opportunity to experience positive emotions.
Furthermore, strong friendships can act as a buffer against life’s challenges, providing a sense of belonging and acceptance that is essential for experiencing meaning, and resultantly a young person’s wellbeing.
While friendships are important, family relationships remain foundational in the wellbeing of young individuals. A supportive family environment offers:
Family Support Aspect | Impact on Wellbeing |
---|---|
Emotional security | Increased resilience |
Guidance and advice | Better decision-making skills |
Unconditional love | Enhanced self-worth |
Stable home life | Reduced stress and anxiety |
Strong family bonds provide a foundation for young people to explore the world with confidence, knowing they have a safe haven to return to. This all supports the perception of having important relationships both inside and outside of the home, and how to build those going forwards.
Effective communication is key to fostering healthy relationships. Young people who develop strong communication skills often experience a greater sense of engagement, because they can be more confident in their ability to express themselves in multiple contexts.
By honing these skills, young individuals can navigate social situations more effectively, leading to more fulfilling relationships and overall improved wellbeing across the 5 components in the PERMA model.
For young people, academic and personal growth are essential components of overall wellbeing, due to most of their lives taking place within an academic context. It is common that young people can equate their sense of worth to how they perform academically within the schooling context, and so it’s important to understand how wellbeing can be supported through these inevitable other-comparisons and pressures.
Striking a balance between studies and personal life, exploring interests, and developing crucial life skills contribute significantly to a young person’s current wellbeing, but also their development and future wellbeing too.
This is because it expands their sense of engagement to areas outside of their academic identity, which can be powerful for those that are struggling at school.
Engaging in diverse interests and hobbies is vital for personal growth and self-discovery, and provides yet another platform for young people to bolster the other areas of their wellbeing – developing new relationships, experiencing positive emotions, accomplishing things, and deriving an overall sense of meaning as a result.
Not only does balancing personal life and school life support the holistic wellbeing of young people, but it helps them to acquire essential life skills which prepares them for future challenges.
This enhances their overall wellbeing because it allows them to expand those areas of their wellbeing broadly. Some key life skills that can develop include:
Life Skill | Description | Benefits |
---|---|---|
Communication | Effective verbal and written expression | Improved relationships and career prospects giving rise to more positive emotions |
Financial literacy | Understanding budgeting and money management | Better financial decision-making and consequent ability to pursue meaning and purpose in life |
Problem-solving | Ability to analyse and resolve issues | Enhanced critical thinking and adaptability fostering opportunities for accomplishments |
Emotional management | Recognising and accepting emotions | Improved social interactions and self-awareness facilitating supportive friendships |
By focusing on these aspects of academic and personal growth, young people can cultivate a strong foundation for their overall wellbeing and future success. As they develop these skills and experiences, they’ll be better equipped to navigate the challenges of adulthood and maintain a work-life balance that further supports their wellbeing and overall functioning.
In Conclusion
Wellbeing for young people encompasses a holistic approach that covers physical health, mental and emotional stability, social connections, personal growth, and environmental factors. By focusing on these key areas, young individuals can develop a strong foundation for a balanced and fulfilling life.
As parents, educators, and community members, it’s crucial to support and nurture young people’s wellbeing through the provision of an environment that encourages healthy habits, provides emotional support, fosters meaningful relationships, and creates opportunities for personal development. By investing in the wellbeing of our youth, we’re not only enhancing their present quality of life but also setting them up for a brighter, more resilient future.
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