Resilience, emotional problems, and behavioural problems of adolescents in China: Roles of mindfulness and life skills

Abstract

While emotional and behaviorial problems increase risks to youth development, resilience helps youth adapt and overcome adversity. Research has discussed factors related to youth resilience, emotional problems, and behaviorial problems; however, existing literature excludes non‐western sociocultural contexts and has not explored the potential relations among mindfulness and life skills. This study examines the effects of mindfulness and life skills on resilience, emotional problems, and behaviorial problems of adolescents in China. Our data come from a group‐administered survey among 60 adolescents from a school for behaviourally delinquent students in Beijing, China, in 2017. The regression results indicate that mindfulness is associated with reduced adolescent emotional and behaviorial problems, whereas life skills are associated with increased resilience. The findings suggest the importance of adolescent interventions that incorporate concepts from both mindfulness and life skills training.