Assessing Psychological Health in School-Going Adolescents: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study in North India

Introduction: - Adolescence is a critical phase marked by significant physical and psychological transformations. Research has shown a strong link between lifestyle-related diseases and unhealthy habits developed during this period, which often persist into adulthood. Early assessment of adolescents' psychological health and lifestyles can play a crucial role in preventing the progression of these behaviors into more serious health conditions. Methods: - This cross-sectional study involved 600 adolescents from 9th to 12th grades in selected schools in Rohtak, Haryana, India. The psychological health of adolescents was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). Ethical approval was secured from the relevant authorities prior to the study. Results: - The average age of the participants was 15.9 years (SD = 1.4), with the majority being male (61%). Over half of the participants (52.7%) had a BMI between 18 and 25 kg/m², and 39.8% were from a lower-middle socio-economic background. In most of the items on the PHQ-4, the majority of participants reported experiencing psychological distress. Approximately one-fifth of the participants reported negative emotions, such as sadness (25.5%) and anxiety (18.8%), occurring at least once a week. Around 62% of the participants reported experiencing anxiety, while 67% reported symptoms of depression. Overall, 86.3% of the participants exhibited psychological distress in the form of either anxiety or depression. None of the sociodemographic variables showed a statistically significant association with the psychological impacts observed in the study. Conclusion: - The study highlights the presence of anxiety and depression among school children in this setting. It offers preliminary data for policymakers to consider when revising existing policies and interventions to better address the needs of adolescents.