TY - JOUR
T1 - Loneliness and its Associated Risk Factors Among in-School Adolescents in Tanzania: Cross-Sectional Analyses of the Global School-Based Health Survey Data
AU - AMU, Hubert
AU - SEIDU, Abdul Aziz
AU - AGBEMAVI, Wonder
AU - AHINKORAH, Bright Opoku
AU - AMEYAW, Edward Kwabena
AU - AMOAH, Abigail
AU - DADZIE, Louis Kobina
AU - KISSAH-KORSAH, Kwaku
PY - 2020/12
Y1 - 2020/12
N2 - Though considered a normal part of adolescent development, loneliness is a mental state that can result in considerable psychological distress. We examined the prevalence and risk factors for loneliness among in-school adolescents in Tanzania. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 2,449 in-school adolescents from Tanzania using data from the 2017 Global School-Based Health Survey. Frequencies, percentages, Chi-square, and binary logistic regression were used in analysing the data. The prevalence of loneliness was 17.4%. Adolescents in forms 1 and 2 were more likely to be lonely than those in grade 6–7. Adolescents who experienced hunger and anxiety, used tobacco, were truant, and engaged in a physical fight had higher risks of being lonely. The prevalence of loneliness among in-school adolescents in Tanzania is quite high. As a mental state, the drastic long-term effects of loneliness on its victims make it imperative for stakeholders in Tanzania’s health industry to plan and implement pragmatic innovative social support programmes and counselling support units in schools. This can ensure the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 target of improving mental health by the year 2030.
AB - Though considered a normal part of adolescent development, loneliness is a mental state that can result in considerable psychological distress. We examined the prevalence and risk factors for loneliness among in-school adolescents in Tanzania. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 2,449 in-school adolescents from Tanzania using data from the 2017 Global School-Based Health Survey. Frequencies, percentages, Chi-square, and binary logistic regression were used in analysing the data. The prevalence of loneliness was 17.4%. Adolescents in forms 1 and 2 were more likely to be lonely than those in grade 6–7. Adolescents who experienced hunger and anxiety, used tobacco, were truant, and engaged in a physical fight had higher risks of being lonely. The prevalence of loneliness among in-school adolescents in Tanzania is quite high. As a mental state, the drastic long-term effects of loneliness on its victims make it imperative for stakeholders in Tanzania’s health industry to plan and implement pragmatic innovative social support programmes and counselling support units in schools. This can ensure the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 target of improving mental health by the year 2030.
KW - Adolescents
KW - In-school
KW - Loneliness
KW - Mental health
KW - Prevalence
KW - Risk factors
KW - Tanzania
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85096600634&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s12646-020-00580-w
DO - 10.1007/s12646-020-00580-w
M3 - Journal Article (refereed)
AN - SCOPUS:85096600634
SN - 0033-2968
VL - 65
SP - 536
EP - 542
JO - Psychological Studies
JF - Psychological Studies
IS - 4
ER -