Risk and protective factors associated with depressive symptoms among school-going adolescents in Malaysia: a cross‑sectional study.

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is a growing global concern, particularly among Malaysian adolescents, where its prevalence is on the rise. This study investigates both risk and protective correlates of depressive symptoms in a representative sample of school-attending Malaysian adolescents.

Methods: Data from the 2022 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS): Adolescent Health Survey, a comprehensive nationwide study. A multistage stratified cluster sampling method was used, and it involved two stages. The survey included a representative sample of secondary school students. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), where a score of 10 or above indicated have depressive symptoms. Descriptive and complex sample logistic regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 26.0.

Results: The study involved 33,523 school-going adolescents, revealing a depressive symptoms prevalence of 26.9%. Multiple logistic regression analysis uncovered that female adolescents and those in higher age were more susceptible to depressive symptoms. In contrast, Chinese and Indian adolescents showed lower susceptibility to depressive symptoms. Factors such as parental separation, widowhood, loneliness, lack of close friendships, unable to sleep due to worry, bullying, truancy, and deficient parental bonding or connectedness were associated with a higher likelihood of depressive symptoms.

Conclusions: Depressive symptoms is a significant issue among Malaysian school-going adolescents, with a prevalence rate of one in four (26.9%). Female adolescents and older students were found to have significantly higher odds of experiencing depressive symptoms, while adolescents of Chinese and Indian ethnicity were less likely to be affected. Other notable correlates included parental separation or widowhood, loneliness, lack of close friends, difficulty sleeping due to worry, bullying, truancy, and poor parental bonding and connectedness. Thus, it is crucial to develop targeted prevention and intervention programs for at-risk adolescents to enhance their mental health and well-being. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that.