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How does a sense of closeness impact the mental health and well-being of youth? 


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A sense of closeness, particularly in relationships like close friendships and mother-youth bonds, plays a crucial role in shaping the mental health and well-being of youth. Research indicates that having an optimal number of close friends, around five, is associated with improved mental health and cognitive abilities. However, exceeding this number can lead to lower cognition and mental health issues, such as ADHD symptoms. Additionally, close mother-youth relationships have been found to be negatively associated with anticipated stigma stemming from police contact, potentially protecting youth from the negative impacts of such encounters. These findings highlight the significance of nurturing close relationships in promoting positive mental health outcomes and protecting youth from adverse experiences.

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Having a moderate number of close friends (around 5) positively impacts mental health and cognition in children, while too few or too many friends can lead to lower well-being and cognitive functions.
Close mother-youth relationships reduce anticipated stigma from police contact, potentially safeguarding youth mental health and well-being, particularly in non-intrusive stop situations.
A sense of closeness impacts youth's mental health and well-being nonlinearly; having around five close friends is associated with optimal outcomes, beyond which negative effects may arise.
Relationship closeness acts as a protective factor against the negative impacts of stress and adversity history on mood, enhancing well-being by reducing drops in happiness and rises in sadness and anger.
Having around 5 close friends benefits mental health and cognition in youth, but exceeding this number can lead to lower cognition and more ADHD symptoms, showing a nonlinear relationship.

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