Psychosocial Foundations of Student Mental Health: High School Sample and Implications for Prevention Policy

This policy white paper examines psychosocial factors associated with mental health among high school students in the United States. Data were collected from 91 predominantly U.S.-based high school students through an anonymous psychosocial check-in administered during a national mental health and college and career readiness webinar hosted by ACT, a U.S.-based standardized testing organization, in May 2023. 

In this sample, 62% of students reported moderate or serious psychological distress based on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), a widely used brief screening measure. Using validated measures of psychological distress, well-being, perceived social support, belonging, and growth mindset, regression analyses examined which modifiable psychosocial factors were most strongly associated with student mental health outcomes. Psychosocial predictors collectively explained 44% of the variance in psychological distress and 26% of the variance in well-being. Family support emerged as the strongest independent predictor of lower psychological distress, while school-related belonging also demonstrated unique associations.

Findings underscore the prevention relevance of strengthening family-linked and school-based protective factors within secondary education systems. The report outlines policy-relevant recommendations aligned with prevention-oriented public health models, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) frameworks.