Sample Of In-school Adolescents Research Articles

Gender-Based Biopsychosocial Correlates of Truancy in Physical Education: A National Survey among Adolescents in Benin

Truancy among in-school adolescents has long been established as a major issue that negatively impacts educational attainment or goals and mental health-related issues. However, research on subjects such as physical education (PE) truancy and its correlates is somewhat limited. This study estimated the prevalence of PE and assessed the factors associated with PE truancy in Benin among in-school adolescents. The 2016 Benin’s Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS) data from a sample of in-school adolescents (n = 2496; 13–17 years) were used for data analysis. The overall prevalence of past 30-day truancy in PE class was 15.4%, with female adolescents reporting a higher prevalence of PE truancy than their male counterparts. Stratified by gender, the regression analyses showed that males in 3rd–6th grade (aOR = 0.69, CI = 0.50–0.96) experiencing hunger (aOR = 0.51, CI = 0.32–0.81) and having suicidal ideations (aOR = 1.64, CI = 1.07–2.53) predisposed adolescents to PE truant behaviour. For female in-school adolescents experiencing hunger (aOR = 1.75, CI = 1.15–2.65), drinking alcohol (aOR = 0.62, CI = 0.44–0.87), having sedentary lifestyles (aOR = 0.62, CI = 0.40–0.96), and being physically attacked (aOR = 0.53, CI = 0.33–0.87) were significantly associated with PE truancy. However, understanding and supportive parents [aOR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.41–0.91] was a protective factor against PE truancy. The present findings suggest the design of gender-sensitive school-based interventions to help minimise or prevent PE truancy among in-school adolescents in Benin based on the predisposing factors while emphasising the protective influences.

Prevalence and associated factors of psychological distress among a national sample of in-school adolescents in Liberia

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and correlates of psychological distress among adolescent school children in Liberia. We analysed data from a cross-sectional nationally representative sample of 2 744 school adolescents (median: 18 years) gathered by the Liberia Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS, 2017). Results indicate that the overall prevalence of psychological distress was 24.5%, 27.3% in girls and 21.2% in boys. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, bullying victimisation, girls, frequent experience of hunger, daily exposure to secondary smoke, and ever amphetamine use increased the odds of psychological distress. In addition, in univariate analysis, interpersonal violence (attacked and in fights), parental disrespect of privacy, school truancy, substance use (alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis), multiple sexual partners, and injury were associated with psychological distress. Addressing psychological distress and related factors should be a priority of prevention and care strategies in this vulnerable population.

High prevalence of school truancy in a national sample of in-school adolescents in Kuwait: Internalizing, externalizing and social risk factors

ABSTRACT Academic achievements in adolescents can be reduced by school truancy. This investigation reports on the prevalence and correlates of school truancy in adolescents in Kuwait. The study participants comprised of 3,637 adolescents (15 years median age) that took part in the nationally representative and cross-sectional “Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS)” in Kuwait in 2015. Results indicate that 48.5% of the students reported one or more days truancy in the past month (32.5% 1–2 days and 16.7% 3 or more days truancy). In adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis, female sex, older age, current tobacco use, frequent soft drink consumption, suicide attempt, poor parental and peer support were independently and positively associated with 1–2 days and/or 3 or more days truancy (past month). A very high prevalence of school truancy was discovered in Kuwait and several risk factors identified that can be incorporated in interventions.

Prevalence and Predictors of Depression among Adolescents in Ido Ekiti, South West Nigeria

Background: Depression among adolescents has been recognized as a public health problem all over the world. In Nigeria, as in most developing countries, there is a need for more research on the epidemiology of adolescent depression as this will guide prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Objectives: The study sought to determine the one month prevalence and predictors of depression among a sample of in-school adolescents in a rural region in South West Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional descriptive survey among 540 secondary school students randomly selected from the six secondary schools in the study area using a Socio demographic Questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire modified for Adolescents. Subsequently, a proportion of them were interviewed with the Kiddies Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia. Results: Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 17. Respondents were aged 10 - 19 years (mean age was 14.07 ± 1.84). The one month prevalence of depression among the study population was 16.3% (using weighting method). Logistic regression analysis showed that death of a mother (OR = 11.786, 95% CI, 1.990 - 23.184), being from a polygamous family (OR = 5.781, 95% CI, 3.253 - 24.371), low socioeconomic class (OR = 6.222, 95% CI, 4.705 - 23.379), having a single parent (OR = 2.236, 95% CI, 0.869 - 11.786), having witnessed frequent violence (OR = 12.411, 95% CI, 0.516 - 29.851) and positive history of sexual abuse (OR = 0.203, 95% CI, 0.003 - 0.529) were significantly and independently associated with depression in this sample of adolescents. Conclusion: The one month prevalence of adolescent depression within the study population is slightly higher than what has been reported in other parts of the world. Therefore, there is a need for government to design and implement policies which can help to prevent, detect early, and treat depression among youths especially in rural areas.