Reviewing the role of community cohesion in youth mental health
Divers, Alexa
Divers, Alexa
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Abstract
Distressing or adverse life events are common stressors for youth that may heighten risk for mental health concerns. Prior work has demonstrated the protective role of positive social relationships, such as parental support and social capital, in promoting youth mental health. However, empirical studies have not yet clarified the role of community support, mutual trust, and unity in this relationship, which is defined as community cohesion. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to synthesize extant literature on the associations between community cohesion and youth mental health outcomes. We adhered to PRISMA guidelines. We used the databases PubMed, PsycINFO, and PsycArticles to conduct a search with search terms including: �community cohesion�, �neighborhood collective efficacy�, �youth�, �adolescen*� , �mental health�, and �psychopathology�. Original empirical papers were included in the review if they were characterized by the following: written in English, a mean sample age between 0 and 25 years, and measures of community cohesion and mental health outcomes. Non-empirical papers, dissertations, and articles focused on caregivers as the primary participants were excluded. The initial search yielded 3105 articles. Following the title and abstract screening, 120 articles remained for the full-text screening, resulting in 67 articles for the review. The extant literature indicates that community cohesion is associated with lessened mental health symptoms and may be protective for youth experiencing adversity. However, the findings were nuanced based on sample size and age, study rurality and urbanity, and choice of measurement and mental health outcome. Overall, the findings suggest a protective role of community cohesion in youth mental health with implications relevant to future pursuits in community prevention and intervention.
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Date
1/1/2026
Student Status
Senior (Graduating in 2026)
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Poster
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Psychological Science, Dance
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College of Arts and Sciences
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Social Science