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Associations between mild depression and anxiety and physical inactivity among school-going Ugandan adolescents aged 14 to 17 years.
- Source :
- Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health; Jan-Dec2022, Vol. 34 Issue 1-3, p115-125, 11p
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate associations between physical activity levels and emotional and behavioural problems in school-going adolescents aged 14 to 17 years in Uganda. Methods: Two-hundred and five adolescents [median (interquartile range) age = 16.0 (1.0) years; female = 61.9%] completed the interviewer-administered Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire (GAD-7), and the Physical Activity Vital Sign (PAVS) measure. Spearman's rho correlations and Mann–Whitney U-tests were applied. Results: Among 205 adolescents, 97.1% were physically inactive (PAVS < 420min/week), while 64.4% reported either mild depressive (PHQ-9 ≥ 5) or anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 5) symptoms. Higher PAVS scores correlated significantly with lower SDQ emotional problems (ρ = −0.23, p < 0.001), lower PHQ-9 (ρ = −0.26, p < 0.001), and lower GAD-7 (ρ = −0.22, p < 0.001) scores. Those with emotional problems (SDQ ≥ 5) (n = 86) were significantly less physically active than those without (n = 119) [30.0 (62.5) versus 60.0 (105.0) min/week, p < 0.001]. Those with depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 5) were significantly less physically active than those without [35.0 (70.0) versus 60.0 (120.0) min/week, p < 0.001]. Conclusion: Physical inactivity and mental health problems are related important public health concerns in school-going adolescents in low-income countries such as Uganda. The efficacy and effectiveness of school-based mental health literacy programs, including physical activity promotion, should be explored in these low-resource settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- HEALTH literacy
CROSS-sectional method
MIDDLE-income countries
MENTAL health
DATA analysis
SEDENTARY lifestyles
EVALUATION of human services programs
HIGH school students
QUESTIONNAIRES
ANXIETY
MANN Whitney U Test
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
STATISTICS
HEALTH promotion
MENTAL depression
LOW-income countries
ADOLESCENCE
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17280583
- Volume :
- 34
- Issue :
- 1-3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 177318815
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2023.2288969