Health risk behaviour is associated with psychological distress among school-going adolescents in five association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries

Abstract

© 2020 This investigation aimed to study associations between multiple health risk behaviour and psychological distress among in-school adolescents in five association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. Cross-sectional data from the 2015 "Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS)"included 33,184 students (mean age 14.3 years, standard deviation (SD) = 1.6 years) that were representative of all students in middle school students in Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste. The mean prevalence of health risk behaviours was 3.1 (SD = 1.2) (range 0-8), and the prevalence of single psychological distress was 14.6% and multiple psychological distress 8.6%. In adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis, engaging in a greater number of health risk behaviours, being female, older age, food insecurity (experience of hunger) were positively and parental or guardian support and school attendance were negatively associated with both single and multiple psychological distress. This study confirms that the co-occurrence of multiple health risk behaviours is associated with psychological distress among adolescents, which should be considered when designing intervention programmes in this population.