Association between psychosomatic health symptoms and common mental illness in Ghanaian adolescents: Age and gender as potential moderators

Franklin N. Glozah, David J. Pevalin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Little is known about the role of age and gender in the association between psychosomatic symptoms and common mental illness in Ghanaian adolescents. This cross-sectional study examined age and gender as moderators between psychosomatic symptoms and common mental illness using data from a school-based survey (N = 770). Males reported higher psychosomatic symptoms and common mental illness, while younger adolescents reported higher common mental illness only. Psychosomatic symptoms were positively associated with common mental illness, but age and gender did not moderate this association. Interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence rate in psychosomatic symptoms are crucial in decreasing common mental illness in Ghanaian adolescents.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1376-1386
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Health Psychology
Volume22
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sep 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Ghana
  • adolescents
  • common mental illness
  • physical health
  • psychological well-being
  • psychosomatic health symptoms

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