School Difficulties and Co-Occurring Health Risk Factors: Substance Use, Aggression, Depression, and Suicidal Behaviors

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition and frequently co-occur with a variety of health risk factors, such as physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption. As such, untreated anxiety and increased risk for engagement in these health risk habits can further increase risk for later-onset chronic disease and complications in disease management. Contemporary studies have identified unique temporal relationships between the onset of specific anxiety disorders with smoking and alcohol use disorders. Incorporating exercise with evidence-based treatments for anxiety is emerging and promising in enhancing treatments for anxiety-related conditions. Likewise, substance use treatment programs may benefit from the detection and management of anxiety. Collaborative care models for anxiety may provide the needed systems-based approach for treating anxiety more effectively in primary and specialty care medical settings. Based on a qualitative review of the literature, this article summarizes the current research on the associations between anxiety, health risk factors, and the risk for chronic diseases. The authors also offer suggestions for future research that would help in better understanding the complex relationships between the role anxiety plays in the vulnerability for and management of physical inactivity and substance use.

Download Full-text

Fact Sheet: Differences Between Men and Women in Health Risk Factors, 1996 and 1997

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e371572004-001 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Health Risk ◽

Health Risk Factors ◽

Men And Women ◽

Fact Sheet

Download Full-text

A Study of the Effects of Exercise on Stress, Depression Levels, and Health Risk Factors

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e413792005-758 ◽

2000 ◽

Author(s):

Paul A. Thomas ◽

Jen Hanley ◽

Christy Tomczak ◽

Jennifer Wuchteil ◽

Nathan Underwood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Health Risk ◽

Health Risk Factors

Download Full-text

Minority Health Profile: Health Risk Factors by Race and Ethnicity

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e550482009-001 ◽

2004 ◽

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Health Risk ◽

Race And Ethnicity ◽

Minority Health ◽

Health Profile ◽

Health Risk Factors

Download Full-text

Behavioral Health Risk Factors for Nonmedical Use of Prescription Opioids in Adolescence

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3529461 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Junhan Cho ◽

Lorraine I. Kelley-Quon ◽

Jessica L. Barrington-Trimis ◽

Afton Kechter ◽

Sarah Axeen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Health Risk ◽

Behavioral Health ◽

Prescription Opioids ◽

Health Risk Factors ◽

Nonmedical Use

Download Full-text

Mental Health, Risk Factors and Access to Care for Primary School Children in the Island of Mauritius

Adolescent Psychiatry ◽

10.2174/221067660404150115163000 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 293-304

Author(s):

Sobharani Sungum-Paliwal

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Health Risk ◽

Primary School ◽

Access To Care ◽

School Children ◽

Primary School Children ◽

Health Risk Factors

Download Full-text

Consumption of carbonated soft drinks among Ghanaian adolescents: associations with socio-demographic factors, health risk factors and psychological distress

Nutrition and Health ◽

10.1177/0260106021996933 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 026010602199693

Author(s):

Prince Atorkey ◽

Mariam Akwei ◽

Winifred Asare-Doku

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Health Risk ◽

Soft Drink ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Soft Drinks ◽

Health Risk Factors ◽

Soft Drink Consumption ◽

Carbonated Soft Drinks ◽

Socio Demographic Factors

Background: Carbonated soft drinks consumption is associated with weight gain and other chronic diseases. Aim: To examine whether socio-demographic factors, health risk factors and psychological distress are associated with carbonated soft drink consumption among adolescents in selected senior high schools in Ghana. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2012 Ghana Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Participants consisted of 1756 school-going adolescents sampled using a two-stage cluster sampling method. Binomial logistic regression was used to determine whether socio-demographic factors, health risk factors and psychological distress were associated with consumption of soft drinks. Results: The prevalence of carbonated soft drinks consumption was 34.9%. Males (odds ratio (OR) = 0.73 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.59–0.92); p = 0.007), and participants with high socio-economic status (OR = 0.76 (95% CI 0.48–0.97); p = 0.033) had smaller odds for consumption of soft drinks. Also, adolescents in Senior High School (SHS) 3 (OR = 0.72 (95% CI 0.53–0.97); p = 0.034) and SHS 4 (OR = 0.63 (95% CI 0.43–0.91); p = 0.014) had smaller odds for soft drinks intake compared to those in SHS 1. Health risk factors associated with greater odds of high soft drink consumption were tobacco use (OR = 1.68, (95% CI 1.07–2.65); p = 0.025), fast food consumption (OR = 1.88, (95% CI 1.47–2.41); p = 0.011) and alcohol consumption (OR = 1.43, (95% CI 1.02–1.99); p = 0.039). Consuming adequate fruit (OR = 0.19 (95% CI 0.15–0.24); p = 0.000) and adequate vegetable (OR = 0.55 (95% CI 0.34–0.87); p = 0.011) were associated with lower odds for soft drink consumption. Adolescents who reported feeling anxious had smaller odds for soft drink intake (OR = 0.65, (95% CI 0.47–0.91); p = 0.011). Conclusions: The findings from this study show that socio-demographic characteristics, health risk factors and psychological distress are associated with the soft drink consumption among adolescents in Ghana. Interventions aimed at reducing soft drink consumption and other health risk factors are needed.

Download Full-text

Cannabis use among early adolescents and transdiagnostic mental health risk factors

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/1359104521994637 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 135910452199463

Author(s):

Sara Moreno-Mansilla ◽

Jorge J Ricarte ◽

David J Hallford

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Health Risk ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Intolerance Of Uncertainty ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Health Risk Factors ◽

Symptoms Of Depression ◽

Modifiable Factors ◽

Wide Range

Introduction: Cannabis is the most widely used psychoactive substance among adolescents worldwide, and the age at which consumption begins to decrease. Cannabis use in adolescents is associated with a wide range of adverse consequences in adulthood including increased vulnerability to psychosis and other mental disorders, as well as suicidal ideation and attempt. The aim of this study is to extend understanding of the link between cannabis use and mental illness by examining whether cannabis use at early ages predicts transdiagnostic variables that are precursors to severe clinical diagnoses. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. The sample was made up of 605 adolescents from 7th to 9th grades, with a mean age of 13.2 years ( SD = 1.0, 47% girls). The variables evaluated were: anomalous perception of reality, intolerance of uncertainty, rumination, suicide attempt, hopelessness, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. The administration of the questionnaires was carried out in groups of 20 participants under the supervision of a researcher in a unique session of 1 hour. Results: Adolescent cannabis users scored higher on all variables assessed: anomalous perception of reality (Cohen’s d = .60), rumination ( d = .48), intolerance of uncertainty ( d = .11), suicidal attempt (affirmative answer: 25.9% of users vs 7.7% of non-users), hopelessness ( d = .85), symptoms of depression ( d = .80), and anxiety ( d = .39). A binary logistic regression showed that the only variable uniquely related to cannabis use was hopelessness (Wald = 4.560, OR: 1.159, p = .033). Conclusions: Among some mental health risk factors, hopelessness appears uniquely related to cannabis use. Adolescents may use cannabis as a coping strategy for negative thoughts and emotions, or it may be a consequence of cannabis use. Future prevention programs should focus on preventing/treating modifiable factors such as hopelessness, and delaying cannabis use in specific subgroups of adolescents who experience pathologies such as depression or suicide attempts.

Download Full-text