Family functioning, psychological distress and suicidal tendencies among adolescents in Ghana

Background: Adolescence is characterised by profound changes in physical, cognitive, emotional and social functioning and is associated with psychological distress and suicidal tendencies. The family plays a significant role in safeguarding and promoting adolescents’ mental health. However, little is known about the influence of family functioning on adolescents’ psychological distress and suicidal tendencies in Ghana. Aim: This study examined the association between family functioning, psychological distress and suicidal tendencies among adolescents in Ghana. Setting: The study was conducted at three public senior high schools in Accra, Ghana. Methods: This cross-sectional study randomly recruited 600 students. We analysed the data using Spearman’s rho correlation and simultaneous multiple logistic regression. Results: The study revealed that poor family problem-solving had no statistically significant relationship with adolescents’ psychological distress and suicidal tendencies. After covarying by gender and age, poor family communication was not statistically and significantly associated with adolescent psychological distress but had a statistically significant positive association with suicidal tendencies. However, and more importantly, poor family affective involvement predicted both adolescents’ psychological distress and suicidal tendencies. Conclusion: These findings suggest the key role of the family in adolescents’ psychological distress and suicidal tendencies, emphasising the need for tailored family psychological interventions in Ghana. Contribution: This study contributes to the emerging literature on family functioning and its association with adolescent psychological distress and suicidal tendencies, underpinned by the McMaster model of family functioning (MMFF) in the Ghanaian setting.