ABSTRACT
Background: Adolescence is a period of turmoil, leading to several mental health challenges including anxiety and/or depression. Anxiety and depressive disorders affects 10-15% of adolescents. Anxiety and depression are associated with substantial negative effects on adolescent's social, emotional and academic success. This leads to poor social and coping skills, low self-esteem, perceptions of social rejection, and difficulty forming friendships. This study was carried out with an objective to study prevalence and risk factors for anxiety and depression among adolescents.Methods: A cross sectional study conducted from April 2014 to December 2015 among 1026 school going adolescents from 4 schools of Rajkot, Gujarat, India. Anxiety and depression were measured using Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) respectively. Chi-square test was applied as test of significance.Results: Majority of the students (58.1%) was belonged to early adolescent age group. Two third were males. Maximum adolescents (42.5%) were coming from class III. Prevalence of moderate-severe anxiety and depression was 9.9% and 18.5%. Anxiety was not significantly associated with age, gender and socio economic class. Prevalence of depression was significantly higher in boys (20.5%) as compared to girls (14.5%, p=0.02). Moderate to severe depression was gradually increased with increasing in age. Adolescent from upper socio economic class (I, II, III- 19.1%) were severely depressed than adolescent from lower socio economic class (IV, V- 4.1%).Conclusions: Anxiety and depression was significantly present in adolescent age group. Depression was commonly observed in boys and gradually increased with increasing in age. There is need of strengthening school health services with screening and cost effective interventions to minimize the risk of drug abuse, suicide and violence.
ABSTRACT
Background: Proper good nutrition are essential for mental development, physical growth, health and wellbeing and survival of adolescents. School based data of India shows a prevalence of obesity is 5.6% to 24.0% among children and adolescents. Psychosocial complications associated with obesity include poor self-image, depression, and difficulties in both social environment and home. This study was carried out with an objective to find out prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors.Methods: A cross sectional study conducted among 1026 school going adolescents from 4 schools of Rajkot, Gujarat, India. Depression and anxiety were measured using Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Chi-square test was applied as test of significance.Results: Majority of the students (58.1%) were belonged to early adolescent age group. About 67.1% were males. About 16.6% were underweight and 1.2% were obese. Overweight was more prevalent in girls (5.6%) as compared to boys (1.2%). Prevalence of anxiety and depression was 9.9% and 18.5% respectively. Anxiety was frequently found in overweight and obese adolescents (82.0%) as compared to only underweight and normal adolescents (7.1%, p<0.0001).Conclusions: The prevalence rate of overweight and obesity were 9.7% and 4.3%. Girls are more affected with overweight. Significant number of adolescents was suffering from anxiety (9.9%) and depression (18.5%). Anxiety was frequently found in overweight and obese adolescents. There is need of immediate action to prevent adolescent obesity. Assessment of anxiety and depression among students with proper counselling should be carried out at least once a year.