Mental health of Iraqi adolescents

ABSTRACT

To estimate the prevalence of flourishing and the association of mental health status with the socio-demographic characteristics and conduct problems of adolescents. A total of 8807 adolescents were included in this study. Data were obtained from knowledge, attitudes and practices household survey carried out in 2004. Each adolescent was interviewed by a trained team and a specially designed questionnaire was filled. Emotional, psychological and social well-beings were assessed through a series of measurements. Conduct problems were measured by self-reporting of school skipping, smoking, alcohol drinking, inhalant use and arrestment. The prevalence of flourishing, moderate mental health status and languishing were 5.6%, 20.3% and 74.1%, respectively. The prevalence rates of school skipping, smoking, and other conduct problems [alcohol drinking, inhalant use, and arrestment] were 60.1%, 62.8% and 59.2%, respectively. Mental health was significantly associated with age, educational level, and various conduct problems [p<0.001]. No significant sex variation was demonstrated. Flourishing was significantly decreasing with advancing age [p<0.0001] and it was significantly lower among smokers [p<0.0001], and those with other conduct problems [p<0.0001]. The low rate of flourishing among adolescents was associated with a high rate of conduct problems which could be a psychological response to the stressful condition prevailing in the country during the last 3 decades