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Objective: Adolescent wellbeing is a key research and policy priority, but little is known about neighbourhood-level influences. This study examined the extent to which adolescents' life satisfaction and internalising symptoms vary between neighbourhoods, and which neighbourhood characteristics are associated with individual outcomes. Method: Baseline data from the #BeeWell cohort study in Greater Manchester (England) including 35,902 adolescents (aged 12–15) across 243 neighbourhoods were linked to neighbourhood characteristics (e.g. access to education and health services, leisure facilities) from the Co-op's Community Wellbeing Index and analysed using multi-level regression. Results: Neighbourhoods explained 0.61% and 1.17% of the variation in life satisfaction and internalising symptoms, respectively. Socio-demographic inequalities in these outcomes varied across neighbourhoods. Several neighbourhood characteristics were associated with wellbeing, but differences across model specifications were observed (e.g. adjusted vs unadjusted; unique associations vs grouped domains). However, higher levels of perceived wellbeing support from local people were associated with lower internalising symptoms in all models. Other characteristics associated with better wellbeing outcomes in various models included lower GP antidepressant prescription rates, and better access to health services, areas for leisure, and good places to spend free time. Conclusion: Neighbourhoods account for a small but significant proportion of the variance in adolescent life satisfaction and internalising symptoms. Some neighbourhood characteristics (notably neighbourhood social capital) are associated with these outcomes at the individual level, and disparities in these outcomes for some groups vary across neighbourhoods. Our findings speak to the role of place as a determinant of adolescent wellbeing, with consequent implications for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gender and sexual minority adolescents experience greater symptoms of psychological distress than their peers, but little is known about broader aspects of their wellbeing. This study examines wellbeing inequalities relating to gender and sexual identity among adolescents from Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. Method: 37,978 adolescents (aged 12–15, attending 165 secondary schools) completed surveys of life satisfaction, positive and negative affect (hedonic framework); autonomy, self-esteem, optimism, and positive relationships (eudaimonic framework); and, symptoms of distress and mental wellbeing (complete state framework). Structural correlated factors models were used to assess gender and sexual identity wellbeing inequalities. Results: The magnitude of wellbeing inequalities pertaining to gender and sexual identity were routinely substantially greater than those concerning other characteristics (e.g., socio-economic disadvantage). Gender identity wellbeing inequalities followed a consistent pattern, with the largest disparities evident between gender diverse adolescents and boys. Sexual identity wellbeing inequalities also followed a consistent pattern, with the largest disparities evident between sexual minority youth (both gay/lesbian and bi/pansexual) and their heterosexual peers. Finally, variation was evident across wellbeing domains. For example, observed gender identity (boys vs. girls) and sexual identity (heterosexual vs. sexual minority) disparities were substantially greater for symptoms of distress than for mental wellbeing in the complete state model. Conclusions: LGBTQ + adolescents experience lower wellbeing than their peers, and this is evident across a range of wellbeing domains. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for the prioritisation of improved prevention and intervention efforts that can better meet the needs of gender diverse and sexual minority youth, and future research should be conducted to improve understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the wellbeing inequalities observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]