Associations between Demographic Characteristics, Lifestyle Factors and School-Related Conditions and Symptoms of Mental Health Problems in Norwegian Upper Secondary School Students

Svein Barene, Andreas Ruud-Tronsmoen and Patrick Foss Johansen
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Svein Barene: Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2418 Elverum, Norway
Andreas Ruud-Tronsmoen: Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2418 Elverum, Norway
Patrick Foss Johansen: Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2418 Elverum, Norway

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-12

Abstract: Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and school-related conditions, and symptoms of mental health problems in Norwegian upper secondary school students following the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study design we used a binary logistic regression model to evaluate potential associations between the predictors and dependent variable. Results: The following six predictors had a statistically significant impact on symptoms of mental health problems; gender effect of being a girl ( p < 0.001), self-perceived body image ( p < 0.001), sleep problems ( p < 0.001), dietary habits ( p = 0.033), school satisfaction ( p = 0.013), and satisfaction with physical education (PE) class participation ( p = 0.025). Conclusions: Being a girl was associated with a 315% higher probability of reporting symptoms of mental health problems than boys, whereas one unit increase in sleep problems showed a 192% higher probability of symptoms of mental health problems. Furthermore, a one unit increase on the respective beneficial predictors’ scales was associated with the following percentage having a lower probability of reporting symptoms of mental health problems; self-perceived body image (59%), dietary habits (58%), school satisfaction (82%), and satisfaction with PE class participation (68%).

Keywords: lifestyle factors; school well-being; physical education; mental health; high school students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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