Parental involvement could mitigate the effects of physical activity and dietary habits on mental distress in Ghanaian youth.

INTRODUCTION:Parental involvement in physical activity and dietary habits have been found to play a substantial role in the mental health of young people. However, there is little evidence about the associations between parental involvement, health behaviours and mental health among Ghanaian youth....

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Main Authors: Franklin N Glozah, Kwaku Oppong Asante, Nuworza Kugbey
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2018-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5957333?pdf=render
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author Franklin N Glozah
Kwaku Oppong Asante
Nuworza Kugbey
author_facet Franklin N Glozah
Kwaku Oppong Asante
Nuworza Kugbey
author_sort Franklin N Glozah
collection DOAJ
description INTRODUCTION:Parental involvement in physical activity and dietary habits have been found to play a substantial role in the mental health of young people. However, there is little evidence about the associations between parental involvement, health behaviours and mental health among Ghanaian youth. This study sought to examine the role of parental involvement in the association between physical activity, dietary habits and mental health among Ghanaian youth. METHODS:Data were obtained from the 2012 Ghana Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). The study population consisted of 1,984 school going youth in high schools with a median age of 15 years old, (53.7%) males. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression statistical models using complex samples method were performed. RESULTS:The prevalence of mental distress was 18.1%, 16.6% and 23% for loneliness, feeling worried and suicidal ideation respectively. Younger students were more likely to feel lonely, worried and have suicidal ideation than older students. Students from low socio-economic backgrounds were significantly more likely to report loneliness, worry and suicidal ideation. After adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, some physical activity and eating habits were associated with experiencing loneliness, worry and suicidal ideation but after introducing parental involvement, there was a decrease in the likelihood of some health behaviour factors in both physical activity and dietary habits to be associated with loneliness, worry and suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION:Physical inactivity and poor dietary habits could have a negative effect on mental distress, however, parental involvement could mitigate the impact of these lifestyle habits on mental distress and should therefore be taken into consideration in efforts aimed at encouraging positive lifestyle habits for good mental health among Ghanaian youth.
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spelling doaj.art-e988fbc54dbc4496871aff7780060eeb2022-12-22T02:06:04ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-01135e019755110.1371/journal.pone.0197551Parental involvement could mitigate the effects of physical activity and dietary habits on mental distress in Ghanaian youth.Franklin N GlozahKwaku Oppong AsanteNuworza KugbeyINTRODUCTION:Parental involvement in physical activity and dietary habits have been found to play a substantial role in the mental health of young people. However, there is little evidence about the associations between parental involvement, health behaviours and mental health among Ghanaian youth. This study sought to examine the role of parental involvement in the association between physical activity, dietary habits and mental health among Ghanaian youth. METHODS:Data were obtained from the 2012 Ghana Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). The study population consisted of 1,984 school going youth in high schools with a median age of 15 years old, (53.7%) males. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression statistical models using complex samples method were performed. RESULTS:The prevalence of mental distress was 18.1%, 16.6% and 23% for loneliness, feeling worried and suicidal ideation respectively. Younger students were more likely to feel lonely, worried and have suicidal ideation than older students. Students from low socio-economic backgrounds were significantly more likely to report loneliness, worry and suicidal ideation. After adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, some physical activity and eating habits were associated with experiencing loneliness, worry and suicidal ideation but after introducing parental involvement, there was a decrease in the likelihood of some health behaviour factors in both physical activity and dietary habits to be associated with loneliness, worry and suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION:Physical inactivity and poor dietary habits could have a negative effect on mental distress, however, parental involvement could mitigate the impact of these lifestyle habits on mental distress and should therefore be taken into consideration in efforts aimed at encouraging positive lifestyle habits for good mental health among Ghanaian youth.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5957333?pdf=render
spellingShingle Franklin N Glozah
Kwaku Oppong Asante
Nuworza Kugbey
Parental involvement could mitigate the effects of physical activity and dietary habits on mental distress in Ghanaian youth.
PLoS ONE
title Parental involvement could mitigate the effects of physical activity and dietary habits on mental distress in Ghanaian youth.
title_full Parental involvement could mitigate the effects of physical activity and dietary habits on mental distress in Ghanaian youth.
title_fullStr Parental involvement could mitigate the effects of physical activity and dietary habits on mental distress in Ghanaian youth.
title_full_unstemmed Parental involvement could mitigate the effects of physical activity and dietary habits on mental distress in Ghanaian youth.
title_short Parental involvement could mitigate the effects of physical activity and dietary habits on mental distress in Ghanaian youth.
title_sort parental involvement could mitigate the effects of physical activity and dietary habits on mental distress in ghanaian youth
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5957333?pdf=render
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AT nuworzakugbey parentalinvolvementcouldmitigatetheeffectsofphysicalactivityanddietaryhabitsonmentaldistressinghanaianyouth