Year: 2017
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Adolescence is a transitional phase from childhood to adulthood and various health risk behaviors are developed at this age.Substance use and psychosocial problems, such as emotional and behavioral problems, are common during adolescence and these can result in various health consequences.However, little attention has been paid to substance use and psychosocial problems among adolescents in Nepal.Therefore, the aims of this study were to describe substance use and psychosocial problems, namely emotional and behavioral issues, and the factors that were associated with them in Nepalese adolescents.The ultimate aim of this study was to point out the multi-dimensional factors related to substance use among Nepalese adolescents.This study consisted of a systematic review and empirical study.The systematic review was conducted by searching for scientific articles from the CINAHL, PubMed, SocIndex and Academic Search Premier databases.Scientific articles (n=27) published between 2007 and 2010 were identified by the screening process and these were analysed using content analysis.The empirical, cross-sectional study focused on 408 adolescents, aged from 12-18, and 19 class teachers selected from the Western Developmental region of Nepal.The data were collected by the Youth Self-Report (YSR), the Adolescents' Substance Use Measurement (ADSUME) tool, demographic questions and a questionnaire for teachers.Data of this empirical study were analysed by using statistical methods.The results showed that girls had higher scores for internalizing problems, including feeling anxious/depressed, and that boys had higher scores for delinquent behavior.In addition, the boys used more substances than the girls.Living in an urban area and belonging to an older age group were factors that influenced emotional and behavioral problems and substance use.Furthermore, the substance use habits of the father or grand parents, and the mother's occupation, were associated with the adolescent's substance use.A strong association was also observed between emotional and behavioral problems and substance use in these adolescents.Teachers reported that substance use among adolescent pupils was mostly influenced by peer relationships and problems in the family.In conclusion, this study may help researchers, health professional and governmental bodies to consider the important factors involved in adolescent health and well-being.However, various factors, including cultural and social factors, need to be considered by future studies in order to understand the possible relationship between psychosocial problems and substance use among adolescents.
Author: Suyen Karki
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Itä-Suomen Yliopisto
OpenAlex ID: W3213628516