Rahman MA, Kundu S, Christopher E, Ahinkorah BO, Okyere J, Uddin R, Mahumud RA. Emerging burdens of adolescent psychosocial health problems: a population-based study of 202 040 adolescents from 68 countries.
BJPsych Open 2023;
9:e188. [PMID:
37840318 PMCID:
PMC10617497 DOI:
10.1192/bjo.2023.583]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Psychosocial health problems are major public health burdens for adolescents. Identifying risk factors is essential to containing negative health implications.
AIMS
This study aimed to estimate the burden of psychosocial health problems among adolescents, and identify potential risk and protective factors.
METHOD
We used the Global School-based Student Health Survey data from 68 countries across six World Health Organization regions. We computed the overall, national- and regional-level weighted estimates of the mean number of psychosocial health problems. Adjusted Poisson regression models examined the factors associated with psychosocial health problems.
RESULTS
Our sample totalled 202 040 adolescents aged 11-17 years (mean age 14.6 [s.d. 1.18] years), composed of 95 589 (47.31%) boys and 104 191 (51.57%) girls (2260 (1.12%) missing answers). Samoa had the highest mean number of psychosocial health problems (mean 2.64 [s.d. 1.41]), and Niue had the lowest (mean 0.33 [s.d. 0.72]). In the pooled analysis, the following factors were associated with higher rates of psychosocial health problems in adolescents globally: ≥13 years of age, being female, experiencing food insecurity, experiencing physical violence, having been bullied, engagement in physical altercation, experiencing serious injury, missing school without parental permission, lack of parental support or monitoring, parents who were not understanding of their child's problems and high sedentary behaviour. Being female, food insecurity, bullying, physical attacks or serious injury were all significantly associated with higher rates of psychosocial health problems in each of the six regions separately.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of psychosocial health problems is high among adolescents, although there are country-level variations. Health promotion strategies should consider the identified factors to promote adolescents' health and well-being.
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