PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DYSFUNCTION AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN EKITI, NIGERIA

Abstract

Psychosocial functioning is an important component of mental health and development of children and adolescents. Past studies explaining specific aspects of childhood and adolescent psychosocial functioning have been guided by many theories. Empirical studies focusing on psychosocial functioning of adolescents in Nigeria are scanty in the literature. Information on the psychosocial functioning of adolescents in school in local settings could provide bases for grass root intervention. This study explored prevalence of psychosocial functioning and risk factors for psychosocial dysfunctions among adolescents in schools in Ikere Ekiti. We purposively selected six schools from the fifteen secondary schools in Ikere LGA. Questionnaire comprising socio-demographic characteristics, Strength and Difficulty Question (SDQ) and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression for Children Scale (CES-DC) were used to obtain data on demographic, behaviour and mood tendencies from participants. Frequency table and percentages were used for initial data exploration while Chi-square test was used for testing difference in proportions. All analyses were performed at 5% level of significance using SPSS version 20. Overall prevalence of emotional symptoms among the adolescents' was 5.6% while the prevalence was 6.1 % and 5.3% among participants in the rural and urban areas respectively. Also, the overall prevalence of conduct problems was 37.9% while 35.8% and 40.8% of urban and rural adolescents respectively had conduct problems. Prevalence of depressive symptoms was found to be 51.8%. (Rural: 55.3%; Urban: 49%). The proportion of adolescents with psychosocial dysfunctions was significantly higher (P=0.01 ) among those attending private schools (40.4%) than those attending public schools (25 .8%). The proportion of male participants with conduct problems (42.6%) was significantly higher (P=0.03), while those with emotional symptoms was higher among participants from polygamous homes (22.3%) compared to monogamous homes (13.3%) (P= 0.03). Friendship with opposite sex was found to be significantly associated with peer problems (71.8%, P= 0.01 ), pro-social behaviour (36.3%, P=0.04) and the overall difficulties (32.8%, P=0.05). The proportion of adolescents with emotional problems (20.0%, P= 0.05), conduct problems (45.0%, P=0.03), and overall difficulties (39.2%, P<0.01) was higher among those who have had disappointments from friend of opposite sex. Prevalence of psychosocial dysfunction was high among in-school adolescents in Ikere-Ekiti LGA. Also, prevalence of psychosocial dysfunction was higher among male participants, participants from private school and those from polygamous home. Intervention programs focusing on schools in both rural and urban areas of Ikere-Ekiti LGA could benefit the psychosocial functioning of the in-school adolescents.