Prevalence and determinants of mental health problems experienced by school-going adolescents in Sri Lanka
1
Global and Women's Health Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
2
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka
3
Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
4
School of Humanities & Social Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
5
National Ageing and Research Institute, Parkville, Australia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2585
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The mental health of Sri Lankan adolescents is of growing concern, given the decades of internal conflict and socio-political instability in Sri Lanka. This aims were to examine the prevalence and determinants of symptoms of common mental health problems (MHP) experienced by school-going adolescents in Sri Lanka.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among school-going adolescents in grades 10–12/13 from seven schools in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. Depressive/psychological distress symptoms measured using the PHQ-9 /K10, were analysed using mean scale scoring. Psychosocial determinants were measured using JVQ/PBI/AESI/study-specific questions. Associations between MHPs and psychosocial determinants were examined using multiple linear regression models.
RESULTS:
24.11% of 1,045 adolescents who completed the surveys reported clinically significant symptoms of depression, and 60.10% reported psychological distress. Higher age, being female, lesser physical activity, smoking, daily social media use, violent victimisation, not living with both birth parents, having ≥2 siblings, low maternal/paternal education, having an overprotective paternal figure, increased academic stress and rural living were associated with higher MHPs. Interpretation We identified a high prevalence of MHPs among Sri Lankan adolescents, which was multifactorially determined. Modifiable risk factors addressed through public health policies, research and programmes, as well as less-modifiable risk factors addressed through national-level policy changes, are all essential to addressing mental health burdens in this population.
The mental health of Sri Lankan adolescents is of growing concern, given the decades of internal conflict and socio-political instability in Sri Lanka. This aims were to examine the prevalence and determinants of symptoms of common mental health problems (MHP) experienced by school-going adolescents in Sri Lanka.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among school-going adolescents in grades 10–12/13 from seven schools in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. Depressive/psychological distress symptoms measured using the PHQ-9 /K10, were analysed using mean scale scoring. Psychosocial determinants were measured using JVQ/PBI/AESI/study-specific questions. Associations between MHPs and psychosocial determinants were examined using multiple linear regression models.
RESULTS:
24.11% of 1,045 adolescents who completed the surveys reported clinically significant symptoms of depression, and 60.10% reported psychological distress. Higher age, being female, lesser physical activity, smoking, daily social media use, violent victimisation, not living with both birth parents, having ≥2 siblings, low maternal/paternal education, having an overprotective paternal figure, increased academic stress and rural living were associated with higher MHPs. Interpretation We identified a high prevalence of MHPs among Sri Lankan adolescents, which was multifactorially determined. Modifiable risk factors addressed through public health policies, research and programmes, as well as less-modifiable risk factors addressed through national-level policy changes, are all essential to addressing mental health burdens in this population.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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