Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 17, 2025
07:15
Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice
Published on: March 15, 2024
1.8K
Exploring mental health challenges and violence risks in high school population
Saleha Khan1, Samratul Fuadah1, Nadeem Ikram2
1General Medicine Practice Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, 21442, Saudi Arabia.
Scientific Reports
|July 2, 2025
Summary
Adolescent mental health is a growing concern. This study found significant links between violence, including cyberbullying, and mental health issues in Jeddah high school students, highlighting the need for safer school environments.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Mental Health Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Adolescence is a critical developmental stage with significant physical, emotional, and social changes.
- Adolescent mental health is a global concern, with schools playing a crucial role in student well-being.
- Understanding the interplay between school environment, violence, and mental health is vital for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate mental health concerns among high-school students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- To explore the relationship between mental health issues and experiences of physical and cyber violence.
- To identify specific risk factors associated with different demographic groups.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to October 2023.
- Convenience sampling included 538 high-school students from five international schools in Jeddah.
- Data were collected using a validated questionnaire adapted from the WHO Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), focusing on mental health and violence modules.
Main Results:
- Male students showed higher associations with bullying, while female students reported more loneliness and suicide attempts (p<0.001).
- Saudi students exhibited greater association with cyberbullying and in-school bullying (p<0.001).
- Significant associations were found between violence-related factors and specific mental health outcomes.
Conclusions:
- The study underscores the need for safer and healthier school environments to address adolescent mental health challenges.
- Implementing robust mental health initiatives, counseling, and surveillance systems is recommended.
- Strengthening school support systems is crucial for mitigating violence risks and promoting student well-being.
Related Concept Videos
02:04Bullying
8.5K
A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is...
8.5K
01:30Stress and Mental Health
219
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
219
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
97
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
97
01:28Conduct Disorder
114
Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
114
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
82
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
82
01:26Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
64
Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...
64