Risk-resource profiles among Chinese adolescents and their longitudinal associations with sleep quality

This study examined how different combinations of psychosocial risks (e.g. negative life events, anxiety) and protective resources (e.g. resilience) are associated with adolescents’ sleep quality over time. Mixture models using data from two assessment points (Spring 2023, Spring 2024) from adolescents in Liling and Zibo, China ( N = 723; 45.09% male, 54.91% female; Time 1 mean age = 14.45 ± 1.52) identified three distinct patterns. Vulnerable and Distressed (17.43%)—showed high levels of risk and limited resources. Resilient and Well-Adapted (47.44%)—exhibited moderate levels of both risk and resilience. Protected and Thriving (35.13%)—was marked by strong protective factors and low risk exposure. Adolescents in the high-risk profile reported significantly poor sleep quality ( p < 0.001). Girls and left-behind adolescents (whose one or both parents work away from home for extended periods) were more likely to belong to risk-dominated profiles. These findings underscore the need for tailored interventions to support at-risk youth.