The social determinants of adolescent anxiety and depression in peri-urban South Africa.

ABSTRACT: The environment in which adolescents live impacts their mental health, through social determinants. We examine the impact of social determinants on anxiety, and depression in adolescents (aged 13-19) in peri-urban KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Using structural equation modelling, we identify direct relationships between social determinants and depression/anxiety, as well as indirect pathways between social determinants. Our findings indicate that living with the biological mother, the perception of family and peer support, school enrolment, and a positive sense of school membership may protect adolescent's mental health. Conversely, exposure to community violence may be directly detrimental to adolescent mental health and indirectly harm mental health through the negation of a sense of scho

SUBMITTER: Rossouw L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12263085 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature