Disadvantaged Australian teens are as happy about their relationships with family and friends as their more affluent peers, new research shows.
More than 23,000 disadvantaged young Australians were surveyed and while most scored poorly on the “Standard of Living” and “Achieving in Life” criteria, they were just as positive about ‘Relationships’ as mainstream teens.
Results also found one-quarter of disadvantaged teens have a diagnosed or suspected mental health condition which compromises their education, while those who are unemployed or out of education are at a very high risk of depression.
Dr Adrian Tomyn from RMIT University said the results are encouraging as they show strong relationships can act as a buffer to mental health issues among young disadvantaged people.
Read more at RMIT University