TY - JOUR
T1 - The association between social support and mental health among vulnerable adolescents in five cities
T2 - Findings from the study of the well-being of adolescents in vulnerable environments
AU - Cheng, Yan
AU - Li, Xianchen
AU - Lou, Chaohua
AU - Sonenstein, Freya L.
AU - Kalamar, Amanda
AU - Jejeebhoy, Shireen
AU - Delany-Moretlwe, Sinead
AU - Brahmbhatt, Heena
AU - Olumide, Adesola Oluwafunmilola
AU - Ojengbede, Oladosu
N1 - Funding Information:
Disclaimer : Publication of this article was supported by the Young Health Programme, a partnership between AstraZeneca, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Plan International. The opinions or views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the funders.
Funding Information:
This research was supported by Young Health Programme, a partnership between AstraZeneca , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , and Plan International , a leading global children's charity. In Ibadan, the study was funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Institute at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health through its funding to The Centre for Population and Reproductive Health, University of Ibadan.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine.
Copyright:
Copyright 2015 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/12/1
Y1 - 2014/12/1
N2 - Results The highest levels of depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms were displayed in Johannesburg among females (44.6% and 67.0%, respectively), whereas the lowest were among New Delhi females and males (13.0% and 16.3%, respectively). The prevalence of suicidal ideation ranged from 7.9% (New Delhi female adolescents) to 39.6% (Johannesburg female adolescents); the 12-month prevalence of suicide attempts ranged from 1.8% (New Delhi females) to 18.3% (Ibadan males). Elevated perceptions of having a caring female adult in the home and feeling connected to their neighborhoods were positively associated with adolescents' levels of hope across the sites while negatively associated with depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms with some variation across sites and gender.Purpose Globally, adolescents are at risk of depression, traumatic stress, and suicide, especially those living in vulnerable environments. This article examines the mental health of 15- to 19-year-old youth in five cities and identifies the social support correlates of mental health.Methods A total of 2,393 adolescents aged 15-19 years in economically distressed neighborhoods in Baltimore, MD; New Delhi, India; Ibadan, Nigeria; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Shanghai, China were recruited in 2013 via respondent-driven sampling to participate in a survey using an audio computer-assisted self-interview. Weighted logistic regression and general linear models were used to explore the associations between mental health and social supports.Conclusions Adolescents living in the very economically distressed areas studied register high levels of depression and posttraumatic stress. Improving social supports in families and neighborhoods may alleviate distress and foster hope. In particular, strengthening supports from female caretakers to their adolescents at home may improve the outlooks of their daughters.
AB - Results The highest levels of depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms were displayed in Johannesburg among females (44.6% and 67.0%, respectively), whereas the lowest were among New Delhi females and males (13.0% and 16.3%, respectively). The prevalence of suicidal ideation ranged from 7.9% (New Delhi female adolescents) to 39.6% (Johannesburg female adolescents); the 12-month prevalence of suicide attempts ranged from 1.8% (New Delhi females) to 18.3% (Ibadan males). Elevated perceptions of having a caring female adult in the home and feeling connected to their neighborhoods were positively associated with adolescents' levels of hope across the sites while negatively associated with depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms with some variation across sites and gender.Purpose Globally, adolescents are at risk of depression, traumatic stress, and suicide, especially those living in vulnerable environments. This article examines the mental health of 15- to 19-year-old youth in five cities and identifies the social support correlates of mental health.Methods A total of 2,393 adolescents aged 15-19 years in economically distressed neighborhoods in Baltimore, MD; New Delhi, India; Ibadan, Nigeria; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Shanghai, China were recruited in 2013 via respondent-driven sampling to participate in a survey using an audio computer-assisted self-interview. Weighted logistic regression and general linear models were used to explore the associations between mental health and social supports.Conclusions Adolescents living in the very economically distressed areas studied register high levels of depression and posttraumatic stress. Improving social supports in families and neighborhoods may alleviate distress and foster hope. In particular, strengthening supports from female caretakers to their adolescents at home may improve the outlooks of their daughters.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Mental health
KW - Social support
KW - Suicidal thoughts
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.08.020
DO - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.08.020
M3 - Article
C2 - 25454000
AN - SCOPUS:84918777002
VL - 55
SP - S31-S38
JO - Journal of Adolescent Health
JF - Journal of Adolescent Health
SN - 1054-139X
IS - 6
ER -