Current well-being in youth remitted from depression and anxiety: Associations with prior suicidality and current behavioral activity

OBJECTIVE: Well-being is a critical outcome in the recovery process of youth with depressive and anxiety disorders. Prior suicidality potentially impairs attainment of a higher level of well-being, while behavioral activity might facilitate it. This study investigated whether prior suicidality severity is associated with current well-being, and whether current behavioral activity moderates this relationship. METHOD: In this study, 246 youth remitted from depression and anxiety (StayFine RCT: 90.2% female, Mage = 19.34; SDage = 1.73) were examined via a diagnostic interview (suicidality) and self-report questionnaires on behavioral activation (BADS-SF) and well-being (MHC-SF). Regression analyses were conducted, controlling for age, sex, duration of remission, and number of prior comorbid disorders and episodes. RESULTS: The level of well-being (MMHC-SF = 46.91; SDMHC-SF = 11.24) was comparable to a general population. Analyses showed a negative association between prior suicidality severity and current level of well-being (b = -1.12, p = .05), and a significant positive association between level of behavioral activity and well-being (b = 0.86, p < .001). However, behavioral activity did not significantly moderate the association between prior suicidality and well-being. CONCLUSION: Considering previous severe mental health problems (i.e., one-third experienced at least one suicide attempt), current well-being was notably high for youth remitted from depression and anxiety. The positive relation of behavioral activity and well-being shows relevance of behavioral activation in this group. The negative association between prior suicidality and current well-being raises questions for future research: pathways to well-being for youth with severe prior suicidality need further examination.