Consistent with determinants of health models and past cross-national analyses of adolescent health survey data in Canada, results provide prospective evidence in support of life meaning and purpose as an intermediary determinant of mental health in adolescents. Experiences that foster a sense of meaning and purpose in life require recognition as determinants of health, and suggest an intangible resource that can be applied to clinical and public health initiatives that address adolescent mental health.
Pickett et al. (2025) studied this question.