Adverse life experiences and mental health of adolescents in Ghana: a gendered analysis
Adolescents living in sub-Saharan Africa have increased exposure to adverse life experiences (ALEs). The current study examines gender differences in the prevalence of ALEs, mental health outcomes and association between ALEs and mental health outcomes of school-going adolescents in Ghana, West Afri...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2022.2123714 |
| _version_ | 1798021939068928000 |
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| author | Samuel Adjorlolo Adote Anum Ken-Yeng Huang |
| author_facet | Samuel Adjorlolo Adote Anum Ken-Yeng Huang |
| author_sort | Samuel Adjorlolo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Adolescents living in sub-Saharan Africa have increased exposure to adverse life experiences (ALEs). The current study examines gender differences in the prevalence of ALEs, mental health outcomes and association between ALEs and mental health outcomes of school-going adolescents in Ghana, West Africa. A sample of 1,886 adolescents (1,174 females) completed mental health and ALEs self-report measures. A series of descriptive and multiple linear regression analysis was conducted. Results revealed girls report higher mental health problems than boys. However, there was gender similarity in the prevalence of ALEs, except for substance misuse and trauma to head that were reported more by boys. The effect of ALEs on mental health outcomes was largely invariant across gender. Substance misuse, victimization experiences and school-level stress significantly predict depressive symptoms in both boys and girls. Interventions targeting the ALEs investigated in this study would help improve the mental health of boys and girls. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T17:21:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d41d2153abf847c58ad29b9482a4664f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0267-3843 2164-4527 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T17:21:39Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| spelling | doaj.art-d41d2153abf847c58ad29b9482a4664f2022-12-22T04:12:28ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Adolescence and Youth0267-38432164-45272022-12-0127144445610.1080/02673843.2022.2123714Adverse life experiences and mental health of adolescents in Ghana: a gendered analysisSamuel Adjorlolo0Adote Anum1Ken-Yeng Huang2Department of Mental Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, College of Humanities, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USAAdolescents living in sub-Saharan Africa have increased exposure to adverse life experiences (ALEs). The current study examines gender differences in the prevalence of ALEs, mental health outcomes and association between ALEs and mental health outcomes of school-going adolescents in Ghana, West Africa. A sample of 1,886 adolescents (1,174 females) completed mental health and ALEs self-report measures. A series of descriptive and multiple linear regression analysis was conducted. Results revealed girls report higher mental health problems than boys. However, there was gender similarity in the prevalence of ALEs, except for substance misuse and trauma to head that were reported more by boys. The effect of ALEs on mental health outcomes was largely invariant across gender. Substance misuse, victimization experiences and school-level stress significantly predict depressive symptoms in both boys and girls. Interventions targeting the ALEs investigated in this study would help improve the mental health of boys and girls.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2022.2123714Adolescentsmental healthdepressionanxietypsychosisAfrica |
| spellingShingle | Samuel Adjorlolo Adote Anum Ken-Yeng Huang Adverse life experiences and mental health of adolescents in Ghana: a gendered analysis International Journal of Adolescence and Youth Adolescents mental health depression anxiety psychosis Africa |
| title | Adverse life experiences and mental health of adolescents in Ghana: a gendered analysis |
| title_full | Adverse life experiences and mental health of adolescents in Ghana: a gendered analysis |
| title_fullStr | Adverse life experiences and mental health of adolescents in Ghana: a gendered analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adverse life experiences and mental health of adolescents in Ghana: a gendered analysis |
| title_short | Adverse life experiences and mental health of adolescents in Ghana: a gendered analysis |
| title_sort | adverse life experiences and mental health of adolescents in ghana a gendered analysis |
| topic | Adolescents mental health depression anxiety psychosis Africa |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2022.2123714 |
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