Mental Health of Transitioned-aged-youth in Family and Social Relationships Perspective: A Rapid Review

A BSTRACT Youth mental health is a critical concern and a public health priority. During the transition from adolescence to adulthood, youths experience numerous stressors that contribute to worsening mental health conditions over time. Early-life stressors, combined with lower levels of family and social support, lead to increased distress. This transformative stage is critical for mental health, with more than 50% of common mental disorders emerging by age 15 and 75% by the age of 25 years. In India, 11–31 million youth reportedly suffer from these conditions. Research indicates that 20% of youth worldwide are at risk of common mental health disorders. Youth at substantial risk for or with increased occurrences of mental health symptoms often experience significant impairments in family and interpersonal relationships. Disruptions in social, family, and psychological functioning are linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety symptoms. The review revealed significant associations between family environment, social relationships, and youth mental health. Evidence from the reviewed studies highlighted that supportive family dynamics, characterized by respect, appreciation, and communication, significantly reduce the risk of mental health issues in youth. Conversely, dysfunctional family environments, marked by conflict and poor communication, were strongly linked to the increased rates of depression and anxiety. The review underscores the importance of youth relationships and calls for rigorous theoretical support and research evidence to understand how different aspects of relationship contexts affect youth mental health.