@article{ref1,
title="Prevalence and factors associated with depression and anxiety among young school-going adolescents in the Western Cape Province of South Africa",
journal="Comprehensive psychiatry",
year="2024",
author="Mkhize, Mirriam and van der Westhuizen, Claire and Sorsdahl, Katherine",
volume="131",
number="",
pages="e152469-e152469",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Between 10 and 20% of children and adolescents globally experience common mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety. Given the dearth of mental health services in low- and middle-income countries, most mental health conditions among adolescents remain undiagnosed and untreated. In South Africa, few studies have explored the prevalence of depression and anxiety among young adolescents aged 10-14 years. This study examined the prevalence of, and factors associated with depression and anxiety among young school-going adolescents in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. <br><br>METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 schools in the Western Cape Province from February to July 2022. Data were collected using a tablet-based survey and included sociodemographic items, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents (PHQ-A) and other psychosocial measures. The prevalence of depression and anxiety was estimated based on cut-off scores for the GAD-7 and PHQ-A. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations between sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, and depression and anxiety. <br><br>RESULTS: Of the 621 adolescents, 33.5% (n = 208) reported experiencing symptoms of depression and 20.9% (n = 130) symptoms of anxiety potentially indicative of a diagnosis. The results of the multivariable logistic regression model indicate that being in a higher grade in school (AOR = 1.65, CI:1.43-1.92), any lifetime alcohol use (AOR = 1.62, CI:1.04-2.64), other drug use (AOR = 2.07, CI:1.06-4.04), and witnessing violence among adults at home (AOR = 2.12, CI:1.07-1.41) were significantly associated with experiencing depressive symptoms. Being in a higher grade in school (AOR = 1.69, CI: 1.42-2.01), poor emotional regulation skills (AOR = 1.03, CI: 1.00-1.07), and the use of cannabis (AOR = 1.03, CI: 1.00-1.07) were significantly associated with experiencing anxiety symptoms. <br><br>CONCLUSION: These findings add to our understanding of school-going adolescents' pressing mental health needs and suggest that mental health adolescent and caregiver interventions may be required to address mental health symptoms and associated risk factors.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0010-440X",
doi="10.1016/j.comppsych.2024.152469",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2024.152469"
}