Lifestyle and mental health among school-going adolescents in Namibia

Abstract

This study examined the association between lifestyle behaviours and psychological distress indicators among school going adolescents The analysis included 4 531 school children, 11???18 years of age, who completed the Namibia Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) in 2013 Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that engaging in a greater number of harmful consumptive, sedentary and sexual risk behaviours carried an elevated risk for anxiety, suicide attempt and loneliness Adolescents with co-occurring health risk behaviours have poorer mental health outcomes with socio-economic vulnerability.