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Osborne A, Aboagye RG, Olorunsaiye CZ, James PB, Bangura C, Seidu AA, Kangbai JB, Ahinkorah BO. Alcohol use among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e080222. [PMID: 38569692 PMCID: PMC10989102 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the prevalence of alcohol use and its associated factors among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone. DESIGN Data for the study was sourced from the 2017 Sierra Leone Global School-Based Student Health Survey, a nationally representative survey conducted among in-school adolescents aged 10-19 years using a multistage sampling methodology. Percentages were used to present the prevalence of alcohol use among in-school adolescents. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the factors associated with alcohol use among in-school adolescents. The results were presented using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with their respective 95% confidence interval (CI). SETTING Sierra Leone. PARTICIPANTS A weighted sample of 1730 in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone. OUTCOME MEASURE Current alcohol use. RESULTS The prevalence of alcohol use among in-school adolescents was 10.7% (7.3, 15.3). In-school adolescents in senior secondary schools were more likely to use alcohol compared with those in junior secondary school (aOR=2.13; 95% CI 1.37, 3.30). The odds of alcohol use was higher among in-school adolescents who were truant at school relative to those who were not (aOR=2.24; 95% CI 1.54, 3.26). Also, in-school adolescents who were bullied (aOR=1.85; 95% CI 1.24, 2.76), ever engaged in sexual intercourse (aOR=2.06; 95% CI 1.39, 3.06), and used marijuana (aOR=3.36; 95% CI 1.72, 6.53) were more likely to use alcohol compared with those who were not. However, in-school adolescents who reported that their parents understood their problems (aOR=0.52; 95% CI 0.33, 0.82) had a lower likelihood of consuming alcohol. CONCLUSION Our study has shown that alcohol use is prevalent among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone. Grade level, experiences of being bullied, history of sexual intercourse, truancy at school, and previous use of marijuana were the factors influencing alcohol use among in-school adolescents. The findings emphasise the necessity of creating school-based health interventions in Sierra Leone that can effectively identify in-school adolescents potentially vulnerable to alcohol-related issues. Also, existing policies and programmes aimed at reducing alcohol use among in-school adolescents need to be strengthened.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Gyan Aboagye
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Department of Family and Community Health, Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
| | | | - Peter Bai James
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sierra Leone College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Abdul-Aziz Seidu
- Public Health & Tropical Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Bright Opoku Ahinkorah
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Pineda-Roa CA, Campo-Arias A, Bello-Villanueva AM. Beck Hopelessness Scale-20: Dimensionality and Nomological Validity Among Colombian School-Age Adolescents. Eval Health Prof 2024; 47:21-26. [PMID: 37148268 DOI: 10.1177/01632787231174479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
To establish the validity of the BHS-20, a sample of 2064 adolescent students aged 14 and 17 years (M = 15.61, SD = 1.05) were invited to participate in the research. Cronbach's alpha (α) and McDonald's omega (ω) were computed to evaluate the internal consistency. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the dimensionality of the BHS-20. The Spearman correlation (rs) with depressive symptoms and risk of suicide scores of the Plutchik Suicide Risk Scale were computed to explore the nomological validity. The BHS-20 showed a high internal consistency (α = .81, ω = .93), an adequate one-dimensional structure with an excellent adjustment [χ2 S-B = 341, df = 170, p < .01, Comparative Fit Index = .99, RMSEA = .03] and acceptable nomological validity with depressive symptoms (rs = .47, p < .01) and scores for suicide risk (rs = .33, p < .01). In conclusion, current results suggest that the BHS-20 demonstrates validity and reliability among Colombian adolescent students.
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Blakeslee T, Snethen J, Schiffman RF, Gwon SH, Sapp M, Kelber S. Adolescent Characteristics, Suicide, and Bullying in High School. J Sch Nurs 2023; 39:463-474. [PMID: 34397299 DOI: 10.1177/10598405211038235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2011-2017 data were examined for associations among high school population subsets who self-reported suicide risk behaviors and experiences with bullying. High-school students who reported suicidal risk behaviors were 4.64 times more likely to have experienced bullying electronically. Ninth grade and female students were more likely than others to experience suicide risk behaviors and bullying. At the interpersonal level, school nurses are able to identify students who are experiencing bullying and who exhibit suicide risk behaviors. At the systems level, bullying prevention efforts should target all students. School nurses, administrators, policy makers, and health providers should consider data-driven recommendations in bullying prevention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia Snethen
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | | | | | - Marty Sapp
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Sheryl Kelber
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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Partap U, Assefa N, Berhane Y, Sie A, Guwatudde D, Killewo J, Oduola A, Sando MM, Vuai S, Adanu R, Bärnighausen T, Fawzi WW. The influence of depressive symptoms and school-going status on risky behaviors: a pooled analysis among adolescents in six sub-Saharan African countries. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1171231. [PMID: 37555002 PMCID: PMC10406520 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1171231] [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: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regarding risky behaviors among adolescents remains scarce, despite the large population (approximately 249 million out of 1.2 billion globally in 2019) of adolescents in the region. We aimed to examine the potential influence of depressive symptoms and school-going status on risky behaviors among adolescents in six SSA countries. METHODS We used individual cross-sectional data from adolescents aged 10-19 based in eight communities across six SSA countries, participating in the ARISE Network Adolescent Health Study (N = 7,661). Outcomes of interest were cigarette or tobacco use, alcohol use, other substance use, getting into a physical fight, no condom use during last sexual intercourse, and suicidal behavior. We examined the proportion of adolescents reporting these behaviors, and examined potential effects of depressive symptoms [tertiles of 6-item Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS-6) score] and school-going status on these behaviors using mixed-effects Poisson regression models. We also assessed effect modification of associations by sex, age, and school-going status. RESULTS The proportion of adolescents reporting risky behaviors was varied, from 2.2% for suicidal behaviors to 26.2% for getting into a physical fight. Being in the higher tertiles of KADS-6 score was associated with increased risk of almost all risky behaviors [adjusted risk ratio (RR) for highest KADS-6 tertile for alcohol use: 1.70, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.48-1.95, p < 0.001; for physical fight: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.36-1.70, p < 0.001; for suicidal behavior: 7.07, 95% CI: 2.69-18.57, p < 0.001]. Being in school was associated with reduced risk of substance use (RR for alcohol use: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.53-1.00, p = 0.047), and not using a condom (RR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.66-0.99, p = 0.040). There was evidence of modification of the effect of school-going status on risky behaviors by age and sex. CONCLUSION Our findings reinforce the need for a greater focus on risky behaviors among adolescents in SSA. Addressing depressive symptoms among adolescents, facilitating school attendance and using schools as platforms to improve health may help reduce risky behaviors in this population. Further research is also required to better assess the potential bidirectionality of associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uttara Partap
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Nega Assefa
- School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
| | - Yemane Berhane
- Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ali Sie
- Nouna Health Research Center, Nouna, Burkina Faso
| | - David Guwatudde
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Japhet Killewo
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ayoade Oduola
- University of Ibadan Research Foundation, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Mary M. Sando
- Africa Academy for Public Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Said Vuai
- College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Richard Adanu
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, University of Ghana School of Public Health, Accra, Ghana
| | - Till Bärnighausen
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Wafaie W. Fawzi
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
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Quarshie ENB, Dey NEY, Oppong Asante K. Adolescent suicidal behaviour in Namibia: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and correlates among 3,152 school learners aged 12-17 years. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:169. [PMID: 36922818 PMCID: PMC10018865 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04646-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While adolescent suicidal behaviour (ideation, planning, and attempt) remains a global public health concern, available county-specific evidence on the phenomenon from African countries is relatively less than enough. The present study was conducted to estimate the 12-month prevalence and describe some of the associated factors of suicide behaviour among school-going adolescents aged 12-17 years old in Namibia. METHODS Participants (n = 4531) answered a self-administered anonymous questionnaire developed and validated for the nationally representative Namibia World Health Organization Global School-based Student Health Survey conducted in 2013. We applied univariate, bivariable, and multivariable statistical approaches to the data. RESULTS Of the 3,152 analytical sample, 20.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.3-22.2%) reported suicidal ideation, 25.2% (95% CI: 22.3-28.4%) engaged in suicide planning, and 24.5% (95% CI: 20.9-28.6%) attempted suicide during the previous 12 months. Of those who attempted suicide, 14.6% (95% CI: 12.5-16.9%) reported one-time suicide attempt, and 9.9% (95% CI: 8.1-12.1%) attempted suicide at least twice in the previous 12 months. The final adjusted multivariable models showed physical attack victimisation, bullying victimisation, loneliness, and parental intrusion of privacy as key factors associated with increased likelihood of suicidal ideation, planning, one-time suicide attempt, and repeated attempted suicide. Cannabis use showed the strongest association with increased relative risk of repeated attempted suicide. CONCLUSION The evidence highlights the importance of paying more attention to addressing the mental health needs (including those related to psychological and social wellness) of school-going adolescents in Namibia. While the current study suggests that further research is warranted to explicate the pathways to adolescent suicide in Namibia, identifying and understanding the correlates (at the individual-level, family-level, interpersonal-level, school context and the broader community context) of adolescent suicidal ideations and non-fatal suicidal behaviours are useful for intervention and prevention programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kwaku Oppong Asante
- Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 84, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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Perry EW, Culbreth R, Self-Brown S, Gilmore AK, Kasirye R, Musuya T, Ndetei D, Swahn MH. Violence Exposure, Self-Reported Mental Health Concerns and Use of Alcohol and Drugs for Coping among Youth in the Slums of Kampala, Uganda. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH 2022; 53:83-110. [PMID: 38577222 PMCID: PMC10989775 DOI: 10.1080/00207411.2022.2073755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to a) compute the prevalence of violence exposure types, polyvictimization, and self-reported depression, anxiety, and using substances to cope among youth ages 12 to 18 years living on the streets or in the slums of Kampala, Uganda, (b) examine the independent associations among orphan status, violence exposure types, and self-reported mental health concerns, and c) explore the association between polyvictimization and mental health concerns. Data are from a 2014 cross-sectional survey of service-seeking youth ages 12 to 18 years (N = 1134) in Kampala, Uganda. Violence exposure types explored in this study were: witnessing family physical violence, direct physical abuse by a parent, any rape history, and physical dating violence. We used descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression to test study objectives. Over half of the sample (60.5%) reported experiencing at least one type of violence exposure; many youth endorsed self-reported depression (57.8%), anxiety (76.8%), and substance use to cope (37.0%). Exposure to violence was associated with higher odds for self-reported depression, anxiety, and using substances to cope. These findings underscore the urgent need to implement evidence-based interventions among this young, underserved population and their families to prevent violence, improve mental health outcomes, and promote resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel Culbreth
- Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | | | - Amanda K Gilmore
- School of Public Health, National Center for Sexual Violence Prevention, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | | | - Tina Musuya
- Center for Domestic Violence Prevention, Kampala, Uganda
| | - David Ndetei
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, Africa Mental Health Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Monica H Swahn
- Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA USA, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA USA
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Xu H, Jiang Z, Li S, Zhang X, Xu S, Wan Y, Tao F. Differences in Influencing Factors Between Non-suicidal Self-Injury and Suicide Attempts in Chinese Adolescents: The Role of Gender. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:870864. [PMID: 35845460 PMCID: PMC9280144 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.870864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempts (SA) are common in adolescents and are important risk factors for suicide deaths. They are related to various psychosocial, behavioral, and biological factors. We aimed to compare the differences on psychological behavior problem and family environment characteristics between NSSI and SA, and the role of gender. METHODS A multi-center population-based survey was conducted in 29 schools across 4 provinces in China. A total of 14,500 urban and rural adolescents in grades 7-12 completed a structured questionnaire to report their sociodemographic information, psychological and behavioral characteristics, childhood maltreatment, parent-child relationships, NSSI, and SA. Post-hoc tests, pairwise comparisons, and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the differences and similarities between subjects who had engaged in NSSI and SA. RESULTS The prevalence of NSSI and SA were 27.3 and 4.9%, respectively, and the co-occurrence of these two behaviors (NSSI + SA) was reported to 2.8%. The NSSI + SA group scored the highest on all study variables, followed by the SA-only group, the NSSI-only group, and the non-self-harm group (p < 0.001). Compared with the non-self-harm group, adolescents who reported either NSSI or SA scored significantly higher on all study variables (p< 0.0083). The comparison between other self-harm groups, this difference have varied in all research variables. CONCLUSION The current study indicate that psychological, behavioral, and family relationships profiles of Chinese adolescents with SA and NSSI are similar, but the measured problematic characteristics were more severe in suicide attempters. In the future, it's necessary to pay more attention to adolescents with more serious psychological and behavioral problems to prevent and early intervene in their self-harm, and actively explore gender differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiqiong Xu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, China
| | - Zhicheng Jiang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, China
| | - Shuqin Li
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, China
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, China
| | - Shaojun Xu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, China
| | - Yuhui Wan
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, China
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Hefei, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, China
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Garman EC, Eyal K, Avendano M, Evans-Lacko S, Lund C. Cash transfers and the mental health of young people: Evidence from South Africa's child support grant. Soc Sci Med 2021; 292:114631. [PMID: 34891031 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study examines the longitudinal impact of the South African Child Support Grant (CSG) on risk for depression and life satisfaction among young people (15-19 years). We analysed data from the last three waves of the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS), a nationally representative panel survey that took place every two years from 2008 to 2017. We used an instrumental variable (IV) approach that exploits multiple changes in age eligibility from 1998 to 2012. Depressive symptoms were assessed using an 8-item version of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; participants who scored above 8 were considered at risk for depression. Life satisfaction was rated on a scale of 1 ('very dissatisfied') to 10 ('very satisfied'); participants who scored 8 or above were classified as satisfied. We also examined impacts on educational deficit (≥2 years behind) and not being in education, employment or training (NEET) as secondary outcomes, as these are also important for mental health. Age eligibility strongly predicted CSG receipt at Wave 3. In instrumental variable models, CSG receipt did not influence the risk for depression (β = 0.10, SE = 0.10, p = 0.316), nor life satisfaction (β = -0.07, SE = 0.09, p = 0.420) at Wave 3, nor at Waves 4 or 5. Some improvements in educational deficit were observed at Wave 3 among CSG beneficiaries compared to non-beneficiaries. These results were robust to multiple specifications. CSG receipt did not improve the psychological wellbeing of adolescents and young adults, nor did it improve their education or employment outcomes. Our findings highlight the need to identify alternative social policies that address the root causes of youth social disadvantage, in conjunction with targeted approaches to improve the mental health of young South Africans living in poverty.
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Affiliation(s)
- E C Garman
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - K Eyal
- School of Economics, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - M Avendano
- Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - S Evans-Lacko
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - C Lund
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, King's Global Health Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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Donenberg G, Merrill KG, Atujuna M, Emerson E, Bray B, Bekker LG. Mental health outcomes of a pilot 2-arm randomized controlled trial of a HIV-prevention program for South African adolescent girls and young women and their female caregivers. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:2189. [PMID: 34847908 PMCID: PMC8630514 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12010-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background South African adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) report significant mental distress and sexual and reproductive health concerns. Mental health problems and trauma symptoms are consistently associated with sexual and reproductive health behavior. Despite their intersection, few interventions address them simultaneously or engage female caregivers (FC) as collaborators. This study presents findings from a pilot test of an empirically supported culturally adapted family-based HIV-prevention program, Informed Motivated Aware and Responsible Adolescents and Adults- South Africa (IMARA-SA), on AGYW anxiety, depression, and trauma. Methods Sixty 15–19-year-old AGYW (mean age = 17.1 years) and their FC from outside Cape Town were randomized to IMARA-SA or a health promotion control program. AGYW reported their anxiety using the GAD-7, depression using the PHQ-9, and trauma using the PC-PTSD-5 at baseline and follow-up (6–10 months post). Both interventions were delivered by Xhosa-speaking Black South African women in groups over 2 days for approximately 10 h. We examined intervention effects using zero-inflated negative binomial regression for anxiety, multinomial logistic regression for depression, and logistic regression for trauma. Results At baseline, groups did not differ in demographic characteristics but AGYW randomized to IMARA-SA had higher depression scores than controls (p = 0.04) and a greater proportion screened positive for PTSD (p = .07). Controlling for baseline mental health scores, AGYW who received IMARA-SA compared to controls had significantly fewer anxiety symptoms at follow-up (adjusted incidence rate ratio for count model = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.29–0.99, p = 0.05), were less likely to report at least one depressive symptom relative to no symptoms (relative risk ratio = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.05, 0.95, p = 0.04), and were less likely to report symptoms of PTSD relative to no symptoms, but this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions Mental health is implicated in risky sexual behavior, and reducing emotional distress can mitigate exposure to poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes. This pilot study yielded promising findings for the mental health impact of IMARA-SA, justifying replication in a larger randomized trial. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Number NCT04758390, accepted 17/02/2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geri Donenberg
- Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 818 S. Wolcott, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
| | - Katherine G Merrill
- Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 818 S. Wolcott, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | | | - Erin Emerson
- Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 818 S. Wolcott, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Bethany Bray
- Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 818 S. Wolcott, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
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10
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Myers B, Browne FA, Carney T, Kline T, Bonner CP, Wechsberg WM. The Association of Recurrent and Multiple Types of Abuse with Adverse Mental Health, Substance Use, and Sexual Health Outcomes among Out-of-School Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cape Town, South Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:11403. [PMID: 34769920 PMCID: PMC8582840 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Although physical and sexual abuse exposure is a well-established risk for poor health, the dimensions of abuse associated with health among socially vulnerable adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) remain underexamined. This article describes associations between combinations of abuse type and timing with mental health, substance use, and sexual risk outcomes among a sample of 499 AGYW (aged 16 to 19) who had left school early and were recruited for a cluster randomized trial in Cape Town, South Africa. Approximately one-third (33.5%; 95% CI: 28.7, 38.6) of participants reported lifetime abuse. Exposure to more than one type of abuse was associated with increased risk of depression (β = 3.92; 95% CI: 2.25, 5.59) and anxiety (β = 3.70; 95% CI: 2.11, 5.28), and greater odds of polydrug use (OR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.02, 4.34) and substance-impaired sex (OR = 2.17; 95% CI: 1.31, 3.86). Exposure to multiple types of abuse during childhood/early adolescence and again in late adolescence was associated with increased risk of depression (β = 4.65; 95% CI: 3.15, 6.14), anxiety (β = 4.35; 95% CI: 2.70, 6.02), and polydrug use (OR = 2.37; 95% CI: 1.03, 5.73). Findings underscore the need for trauma-informed interventions that reduce mental health, substance use, and sexual risks among AGYW who have experienced multiple forms of abuse and recurrent abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronwyn Myers
- Curtin enAble Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
- Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Abuse Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
- Division of Addiction Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Felicia A Browne
- RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Tara Carney
- Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Abuse Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
- Division of Addiction Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Tracy Kline
- RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | | | - Wendee M Wechsberg
- RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
- Maternal and Child Health Department, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
- Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27529, USA
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27703, USA
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11
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Liu Y, Han Y, Wang X, Chen Y, Mo Q, Li L, Wang Y, Fan J, Yang Y, Soondrum T, Zhu X. Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Qual Life Res 2021; 31:865-876. [PMID: 34328583 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-021-02953-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Emotional control, the attempt to suppress the expression of negative effects, is an essential factor in the prevalence of psychological distress in women with breast cancer. The Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS) is a commonly used self-report tool for assessing emotional suppression in both clinical and general groups. This study aimed to validate the Chinese version of the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS) in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. METHODS The study involved 680 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer aged 25 to 76 (mean age = 48.19, standard deviation (SD) = 8.57) from Changsha (China). Data analysis included Cronbach's alpha coefficients, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Pearson's correlations, Independent-Samples T test, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were conducted to determine the optimal model. For the best fitting model stability was assessed with tests for invariance across age, educational level, and employment status. RESULTS Internal consistency (α = 0.987) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.715) of the CECS were presented. Results confirm the structure of the Chinese version of the CECS with 21 items divided into three dimensions, anger suppression (CECS_AG), depression suppression (CECS_MD), and anxiety suppression (CECS_AX). Convergent and known-groups validity were acceptable. Additionally, this model remained invariant across age, educational levels, and employment status. CONCLUSIONS The Chinese version of the CECS has good psychometric properties in terms of reliability and validity, remaining invariant across age, educational levels, and employment status in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Liu
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Renmin Middle Road 139#, Furong District, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
- Medical Psychological Institute of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yan Han
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Renmin Middle Road 139#, Furong District, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Renmin Middle Road 139#, Furong District, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Yaoxin Chen
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Renmin Middle Road 139#, Furong District, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Qingqian Mo
- Department of Clinical Psychology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lingyan Li
- School of Nursing, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yuping Wang
- School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jie Fan
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Renmin Middle Road 139#, Furong District, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Yanjie Yang
- School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Tamini Soondrum
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Renmin Middle Road 139#, Furong District, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Xiongzhao Zhu
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Renmin Middle Road 139#, Furong District, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China.
- Medical Psychological Institute of Central South University, Changsha, China.
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12
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Pathways to Depression and Poor Quality of Life Among Adolescents in Western Kenya: Role of Anticipated HIV Stigma, HIV Risk Perception, and Sexual Behaviors. AIDS Behav 2021; 25:1423-1437. [PMID: 32737818 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-020-02980-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Depression is a major cause of disease burden and is linked to poor quality of life (QOL) among adolescents. We examined the roles of sexual behaviors, HIV risk perception, and anticipated HIV stigma on depressive symptomatology and QOL among 4096 adolescents in a rural region of western Kenya with a high burden of HIV. Participants were aged 15-19 years, had not been tested for HIV in the previous 6 months, and had never been diagnosed with HIV. Anticipated stigma and risk perception were directly associated with depressive symptomatology and QOL. There was evidence of small indirect effects-through stigma-of risk perception on depressive symptomatology and QOL. Gender moderated relationships between sexual behavior and risk perception, depressive symptomatology, and QOL. Results suggest that developing effective gender-based interventions to address stigma, sexual behavior, and risk perception may be important for improving adolescent well-being in high HIV prevalence contexts.
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13
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Wei Z, Mukherjee S. Health-Behaviors Associated With the Growing Risk of Adolescent Suicide Attempts: A Data-Driven Cross-Sectional Study. Am J Health Promot 2020; 35:688-693. [PMID: 33297721 DOI: 10.1177/0890117120977378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Identify and examine the associations between health behaviors and increased risk of adolescent suicide attempts, while controlling for socio-economic and demographic differences. DESIGN A data-driven analysis using cross-sectional data. SETTING Communities in the state of Montana from 1999 to 2017. Selected Montana as it persistently ranks among the top 3 vulnerable states in the U.S. over the past years. SUBJECTS Selected 22,447 adolescents of whom 1,631 adolescents attempted suicide at least once. MEASURES Overall 29 variables (predictors) accounting for psychological behaviors, illegal substances consumption, daily activities at schools and demographic backgrounds were considered. ANALYSIS A library of machine learning algorithms along with the traditionally-used logistic regression were used to model and predict suicide attempt risk. Model performances-goodness-of-fit and predictive accuracy-were measured using accuracy, precision, recall and F-score metrics. Additionally, χ2 analysis was used to evaluate the statistical significance of each variable. RESULTS The non-parametric Bayesian tree ensemble model outperformed all other models, with 80.0% accuracy in goodness-of-fit (F-score: 0.802) and 78.2% in predictive accuracy (F-score: 0.785). Key health-behaviors identified include: being sad/hopeless (p < 0.0001), followed by safety concerns at school (p < 0.0001), physical fighting (p < 0.0001), inhalant usage (p < 0.0001), illegal drugs consumption at school (p < 0.0001), current cigarette usage (p < 0.0001), and having first sex at an early age (below 15 years of age). Additionally, the minority groups (American Indian/Alaska Natives, Hispanics/Latinos) (p < 0.0001), and females (p < 0.0001) are also found to be highly vulnerable to attempting suicides. CONCLUSION Significant contribution of this work is understanding the key health-behaviors and health disparities that lead to higher frequency of suicide attempts among adolescents, while accounting for the non-linearity and complex interactions among the outcome and the exposure variables. Findings provide insights on key health-behaviors that can be viewed as early warning signs/precursors of suicide attempts among adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Wei
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 12292University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, NY, USA
| | - Sayanti Mukherjee
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 12292University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, NY, USA
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14
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Perry EW, Culbreth R, Swahn M, Kasirye R, Self-Brown S. Psychological Distress Among Orphaned Youth and Youth Reporting Sexual Exploitation in Kampala, Uganda. CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES REVIEW 2020; 119:105587. [PMID: 33363296 PMCID: PMC7755130 DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Psychological distress is a priority health issue in low- and middle-income countries; however, it is inadequately addressed among vulnerable youth living in extremely underserved communities (i.e., on the streets and in the slums) who are at a high risk of experiencing adversity. The purpose of this study was to compute the prevalence of self-reported psychological distress among youth living in the slums of Kampala, Uganda, and examine how orphan status and commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) are related to youth psychological distress. Analyses are based on a 2014 cross-sectional survey of service-seeking youth (N = 1134) in Kampala, Uganda. Bivariate and multivariable multinomial regression analyses were used to determine associations between orphan status, sexual exploitation, and psychological distress (defined as experiencing the following proxy variables for more complex psychopathology: hopelessness and/or worry). Among all youth participants, 83.2% (n = 937) reported at least one type of psychological distress; 51.3% (n = 578) reported experiencing both types. The reported prevalence of any type of psychological distress was highest among youth who reported experiencing sexual exploitation (91.2%), double orphans (90.0%), and single orphans (83.8%); however, a high prevalence (76.7%) of any type of distress was also found among youth who reported both parents alive. Experiencing both types of distress was associated with being a double orphan (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.77, 4.81]), reporting CSE (AOR = 2.71, 95% CI = [1.67, 4.41]), and increased age (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI = [1.20, 1.44]). Psychological distress is prevalent among all youth living in the slums of Kampala and is independently associated with being a double orphan and experiencing CSE. These findings underscore the urgent need to intervene with all youth who reside in this particular underserved community, especially those who have lost both parents, and to prevent CSE among this vulnerable, underserved population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel Culbreth
- Department of Respiratory Therapy, Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Monica Swahn
- School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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15
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Burns RD, Bai Y, Pfledderer CD, Brusseau TA, Byun W. Movement Behaviors and Perceived Loneliness and Sadness within Alaskan Adolescents. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E6866. [PMID: 32962220 PMCID: PMC7558989 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Physical activity, screen use, and sleep are behaviors that integrate across the whole day. However, the accumulative influence of meeting recommendations for these 24-h movement behaviors on the mental health of Alaskan adolescents has not been examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between movement behaviors, loneliness, and sadness within Alaskan adolescents. Data were obtained from the 2019 Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The number of adolescents participating in the 2019 Alaska YRBS was 1897. Associations between meeting recommendations for movement behaviors with loneliness and sadness were examined using weighted logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and body mass index (BMI). Approximately 5.0% of the sample met recommendations for all three movement behaviors. Meeting 2 or 3 movement behavior recommendations was associated with lower odds of loneliness (odds ratio (OR) range = 0.23 to 0.44, p < 0.01). Additionally, meeting 1 to 3 movement behavior recommendations was associated with lower odds of sadness (OR range = 0.29 to 0.52, p < 0.05). Joint association analyses determined that these relationships were primarily driven by meeting the sleep recommendation for loneliness and meeting the screen use recommendation for sadness. The results support use of multiple movement-based behavior programming to attenuate feelings of loneliness and sadness within Alaskan adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan D. Burns
- Department of Health & Kinesiology, College of Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; (Y.B.); (C.D.P.); (T.A.B.); (W.B.)
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16
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Self-harm with suicidal and non-suicidal intent in young people in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. BMC Psychiatry 2020; 20:234. [PMID: 32408896 PMCID: PMC7222461 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-02587-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Self-harm, whether attributed to suicidal or non-suicidal motives, is associated with several poor outcomes in young people, including eventual suicide. Much of our understanding of self-harm in young people is based on literature from Europe (particularly, the UK), North America, and Australia. We aimed to synthesise the available evidence on prevalence, the commonly reported self-harm methods, correlates, risk and protective factors, and reasons for self-harm, in adolescents (aged 10-25 years) in sub-Saharan Africa. METHOD We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, African Journals OnLine, and African Index Medicus for records from 1950 through August 2019, without language restrictions. We supplemented the database searches by searching relevant portals for postgraduate theses, reference harvesting, contacting authors for unpublished studies, and hand searching relevant print sources. We applied narrative synthesis to the evidence. RESULTS Seventy-four studies from 18 sub-Saharan African countries met the inclusion criteria. The median lifetime prevalence estimate was 10·3% (interquartile range [IQR] 4·6% - 16·1%); median 12-month prevalence estimate was 16·9% (IQR: 11·5% - 25·5%); median 6-month prevalence estimate was 18·2% (IQR: 12·7% - 21·8%); and the median 1-month prevalence estimate was 3·2% (IQR: 2·5-14·8%). Studies from Western sub-Saharan Africa reported the highest 12-month prevalence estimates (median = 24·3%; IQR = 16·9% - 27·9%). Clinical samples commonly reported overdose, whereas self-cutting was most commonly reported in non-clinical samples. Academic failure, sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, romantic relationship problems, family conflict, depression, and previous self-harm were identified as key correlates of self-harm. No study reported protective factors against self-harm. CONCLUSION Variation in estimates was explained by small sample sizes and variation in definitions and measures used. Exploration of associations, risks and protective factors was based upon concepts and measures derived from high income countries. More detailed and culturally sensitive research is needed to understand the context-specific risks and protective factors for self-harm in adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.
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17
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Liu ZZ, Chen H, Bo QG, Chen RH, Li FW, Lv L, Jia CX, Liu X. Psychological and behavioral characteristics of suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-injury in Chinese adolescents. J Affect Disord 2018; 226:287-293. [PMID: 29024902 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 09/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide attempts (SA) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are prevalent in adolescents and important risk factors of suicide death. Both SA and NSSI are associated with multiple psychosocial, behavioral, biological and genetic factors. This study examined similarities and differences in psychological vulnerability and internalizing and externalizing problems between adolescents with SA and NSSI. METHODS Participants consisted of 11,831 students and had a mean age of 14.97 (SD = 1.46) years. Students completed a structured questionnaire to report their demographic information, psychological characteristics, internalizing and externalizing problems, SA and NSSI. Based on the history of NSSI and SA in the last year, the sample was divided into four groups: non-self-harm (NSH), NSSI only, SA only, and NSSI+SA. Multivariate analyses of covariance and post-hoc pairwise comparisons were performed for multiple comparisons. RESULTS Compared with NSH group, adolescents with either NSSI or SA scored significantly higher on trait anger, impulsiveness, hopelessness, internalizing and externalizing problems. NSSI+SA group and SA only group scored significantly higher than NSSI only group but both did not score significantly different on most psychological and behavioral variables. LIMITATIONS Limitations include reliance on self-reported measures and cross-sectional survey. CONCLUSIONS Psychological and behavioral profiles between adolescents with SA and NSSI are similar but are more severe in suicide attempters. The findings highlight the necessity of assessing psychological and behavioral problems for prevention and early intervention of adolescent self-harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Zhen Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, Shandong University School of Public Health and Shandong University Center for Suicide Prevention Research, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Hua Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, Shandong University School of Public Health and Shandong University Center for Suicide Prevention Research, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Qi-Gui Bo
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Lijin County, Lijin 257400, China
| | - Ren-Hong Chen
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Yanggu County, Yanggu 252300, China
| | - Feng-Wen Li
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Zoucheng City, Zoucheng 273500, China
| | - Lei Lv
- Education bureau of Yanggu County, Yanggu 252300, China
| | - Cun-Xian Jia
- Department of Epidemiology, Shandong University School of Public Health and Shandong University Center for Suicide Prevention Research, Jinan 250012, China.
| | - Xianchen Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, Shandong University School of Public Health and Shandong University Center for Suicide Prevention Research, Jinan 250012, China; School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Shipai, Guangzhou 510631, China; The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States.
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18
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Paulsson-Do U, Edlund B, Stenhammar C, Westerling R. Psychosocial vulnerability underlying four common unhealthy behaviours in 15-16-year-old Swedish adolescents: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychol 2017; 5:39. [PMID: 29246175 PMCID: PMC5732431 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-017-0209-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Factors that influence unhealthy behaviours in adolescents may have different impacts in different sociocultural settings. There is lack of research on the association between psychosocial vulnerability and unhealthy behaviours in adolescents, particularly outside the United States. The aim was to investigate both direct and indirect relationships between psychosocial conditions (subjective well-being, social relationships and self-esteem) and four health-related behaviours (smoking, alcohol consumption, meal frequency and physical activity) in Swedish adolescents aged 15–16 years. Socio-demographic variables (socio-economic status, gender and age) were also investigated. Methods To study these associations, a hypothesised model was tested using structural equation modelling. In the hypothesised model, interrelated psychosocial conditions (low well-being, poor social relationships and low self-esteem) and socio-demographic factors (low self-perceived socio-economic status, being female and higher age) together represented a vulnerability underlying smoking, alcohol consumption, irregular meal frequency and low level of physical activity. In this cross-sectional study, self-report questionnaires were used to collect data from 492 adolescents. Results Hypothesised pathways between psychosocial conditions, socio-demographic factors and the four unhealthy behaviours were confirmed. Low well-being was strongly associated with unhealthy behaviours, and poor social relationships showed a strong indirect association with the unhealthy behaviours. Low self-esteem, low self-perceived socio-economic status and female gender were also vulnerability factors for the unhealthy behaviours. Conclusions Vulnerability for four common unhealthy behaviours was found in Swedish adolescents. This study presents the interrelationships of psychosocial and socio-demographic factors and how they were related with unhealthy behaviours. The results bring new insight into how psychosocial factors are related to unhealthy behaviours in adolescents living in northern Europe. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40359-017-0209-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrica Paulsson-Do
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Section for Sociomedical Epidemiological Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. .,Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, BMC, Box 564, 751 22, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Birgitta Edlund
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, BMC, Box 564, 751 22, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christina Stenhammar
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, BMC, Box 564, 751 22, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ragnar Westerling
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Section for Sociomedical Epidemiological Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, BMC, Box 564, 751 22, Uppsala, Sweden
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