Conceptualization of a decision-analytic model in youth mental health: an application of stakeholder engagement in model development in the Netherlands
Valkenburg, Hendrika J Vriens, Maartje Meijnckens, Dwayne Rodenburg, Jeroen Wiering, Denis S Wijnen, Ben FM de Wit, G Ardine Feenstra, Talitha L
Valkenburg, Hendrika J
Vriens, Maartje
Meijnckens, Dwayne
Rodenburg, Jeroen
Wiering, Denis S
Wijnen, Ben FM
de Wit, G Ardine
Feenstra, Talitha L
Series / Report no.
Open Access
Type
Journal Article
Article
Article
Language
en
Date of publication
2025-12-21
Year of publication
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Title
Conceptualization of a decision-analytic model in youth mental health: an application of stakeholder engagement in model development in the Netherlands
Translated Title
Published in
Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res 2026; 26(2):221-230
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The long-term impact of preventive policies in the Netherlands on the mental health of young adults remains unclear. Therefore, this paper describes the development of a conceptual model of youth mental health that serves as the foundation of a future decision-analytic model.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Stakeholders were engaged through three rounds of focus group discussions to indicate the factors of youth mental health that affect the likelihood of developing mental disorders later in life and the relationships among them. Findings were discussed with stakeholders and in a study team that included members with diverse backgrounds. Literature was used as an additional information source for the relationships among the selected factors.
RESULTS: In total, 43 stakeholders participated in the focus group discussions. Eleven factors of youth mental health were regarded as most influential, with 13 relationships among them. The final conceptual model was approved by the stakeholders and the study team.
CONCLUSIONS: Through integrating stakeholder perspectives and published literature, a conceptual model was created that captures essential factors and relationships affecting (long-term) mental health. Although stakeholder engagement requires extensive planning, it enhanced the model's credibility and validity, and could therefore serve as a complement to other conceptual modeling approaches.