UC Santa Barbara

Various studies and methodological approaches have been used to examine indicators of distress and wellness aligned with a dual-factor model (DFM) of mental health. Through a review of the DFM literature and this study’s analyses, this paper aims to gain a deeper understanding of DFM and enhance its value as a resource for research and practical implementation in schools. Latent profile analysis (LPA) techniques were applied and replicated using two large population size samples (Sample A: N = 17,358; Sample B: N = 17,927), randomly drawn from a larger sample of 538,527 California adolescents in grades 6–12. The LPA used the California Student Wellness Index (CSWI), which was developed, co-normed, and intended for use within the DFM framework. Three ordered latent profiles were identified (i.e., flourishing, moderate, and troubled) with expected associations with distal outcomes of depressed and hopeless mood, suicidal thoughts, school connectedness, academic grades, and school absences. Results highlight how classic DFM groupings are the products of the algorithms used to create them and are not consistently replicated through empirical methods. The need for standardized approaches for DFM research and practice is discussed.