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Supporting young people's mental health may require a broader focus than the traditional "big three" healthy habits of sleep, nutrition and physical activity, according to new University of the Sunshine Coast research.

The study, led by researchers from UniSC's Thompson Institute, found that adolescents with a greater number of protective lifestyle factors were more likely to report positive well-being and lower psychological distress over time. The study is published in the Journal of Adolescence.

The research followed adolescents ages 12–17 across multiple years, examining how a range of lifestyle behaviors and psychosocial factors affected future well-being.

Co-lead author and youth mental health researcher Dr. Taliah Prince said the findings highlighted the importance of considering multiple aspects of adolescents' lives when supporting their well-being.

"We often hear about the importance of sleep, diet and exercise, and while these are important, our research suggests there's a bigger picture to consider," Prince said.

"Alongside these healthy habits, we also looked at social connectedness and mindfulness, including how connected young people feel to others and how present and engaged they are in daily life.

"What stood out was that young people with a greater number of protective factors were more likely to report positive well-being and lower psychological distress at later assessments, even after we accounted for their previous mental health."

The study drew on data from the Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study (LABS), which tracked the same group of teens for up to five years, regularly recording brain imaging, cognition, mental health symptoms and lifestyle behaviors.

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