Ecological resilience and psychosocial utility among adolescents during societal instability: A utility-based economic evaluation.

BACKGROUND

Adolescent psychosocial well-being has become a major global public health concern, particularly during periods of societal instability. Although ecological resilience systems within families, schools, and peer environments are recognized as important protective factors, little is known about their broader population-health and economic significance. This study examined whether ecological resilience is associated with psychosocial utility and explored its potential economic relevance using a utility-based evaluation framework.

METHODS

Using data from 22,818 participants in the Israeli (2022-2023) Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey, we examined associations between ecological resilience and psychosocial utility. An Ecological Resilience Index (ERI) was constructed from family, school, and peer domains, and a Psychosocial Utility Index (PUI) was derived from mental well-being, life satisfaction, and psychosomatic functioning. Associations were evaluated using adjusted models, and utility differences were translated into exploratory economic valuation scenarios.

RESULTS

Adolescents exposed to higher levels of ecological resilience demonstrated substantially greater psychosocial utility than those exposed to lower levels. The adjusted incremental utility difference was 0.2351. School and family resilience demonstrated the strongest associations with psychosocial utility. Scenario-based economic analyses suggested potentially substantial social value associated with resilience-related utility gains across a range of valuation assumptions.

CONCLUSIONS

Ecological resilience systems embedded within family, school, and peer environments were strongly associated with adolescent psychosocial well-being. The findings suggest that resilience-promoting social environments may represent an important population-health resource and could have broader societal and economic relevance. Longitudinal research is needed to evaluate causal pathways and economic impacts.