Prevalence of Mental Health Problems Among in School Adolescents (Published)
Mental health is seen as a state of successful performance of mental function resulting in productive activities and fulfilling relationships with other people. This study tried to investigate the prevalence mental health problems among in school adolescents. Descriptive survey was adopted to conduct the study. The standardized General Health Questionnaire (GHQ – 28) was adopted for the study (r=0.78 – 0.95). The scale was used and analysed using the inferential statistics of t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to test the hypotheses. Three hundred and forty-five (345) participants were drawn using stratified and purposive sampling techniques. The results revealed a significant gender difference in the prevalence of mental health problems among in-school adolescents in secondary schools (t (343=3.62; p=.005) significant difference was also found in the prevalence of mental health problems among in – school adolescents based on their ages (f (2, 344 = 5.854; p<.001). Significant difference was found in the prevalence of mental health problems among in-school adolescents based on their family type (f (2,344 = 2.824; p<.001). Recommendations were offered on how to assist adolescents to live a healthy life.
Keywords: Age, Gender, Mental Health, early adult, family type, in-school adolescents