Loneliness among in-school adolescents in Ghana: evidence from the 2012 Global School-based Student Health Survey

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to assess the prevalence and correlates of loneliness among in-school adolescents in Ghana using data obtained from the 2012 Global School-based Health Survey conducted in Ghana. Results: A total of 1 266 in-school adolescents participated in the study. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to examine the prevalence and correlates of loneliness. The prevalence of loneliness was 18.4%. Adolescents who felt hungry in-school (AOR = 0.43), those who used tobacco (AOR = 2.31), those who used alcohol (AOR = 1.71), those who felt anxious (AOR = 2.44), those who were bullied (AOR = 1.55), and those who sustained an injury (AOR = 1.33) were more likely to feel lonely than those who did not go hungry in-school, those who did not feel anxious, those who did not use alcohol, and those who did not experience bullying. Adolescents in Senior High School 4, those who were connected (AOR = 0.33), and bonded (AOR = 0.21) to their parents had lower odds of being lonely compared to those in Senior High School 1, those not connected, and those not bonded to their parents. Conclusion: There is a need for loneliness prevention programs targeting improvement in parental support skills, helping adolescents develop friendship skills, counselling uptake, and prevent bullying victimisation in senior high schools in Ghana.