Psychosocial injuries and associated factors among adolescents in Northern Iran: a cross-sectional study

Résumé fourni par la source

Psychosocial injuries, encompassing psychological distress and social dysfunction, are a significant public health concern among adolescents globally. However, their prevalence and determinants remain insufficiently studied within Iran’s unique sociocultural context. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of psychosocial injuries and identify their associated factors among female adolescents in northern Iran. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,113 female high school students in Mazandaran Province, using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. We collected data using a sociodemographic questionnaire and a researcher-developed 51-item instrument. The tool’s structural validity was established through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, which reduced the number of items from 51 to 33. We determined cut-off scores for identifying high psychosocial injury levels using the mean ± 1 standard deviation (SD) method. We analyzed data using SPSS version 26, employing Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression. The prevalence of high psychosocial injury among participants was 32.3%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that enrollment in the humanities field (aOR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.65–3.21), having a retired father (aOR = 3.12, 95% CI: 1.65–5.87), having a mother employed in a professional role (e.g., engineering or medicine)(aOR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.16–3.51), and higher paternal education (Master’s/Ph.D.: aOR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.23–2.92) were significantly associated with increased odds of psychosocial injury. Conversely, higher economic satisfaction emerged as a protective factor, with lower odds among students who reported being somewhat satisfied (aOR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.30–0.75) and completely satisfied (aOR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.15–0.44) than the dissatisfied group. Approximately one-third of female adolescents in this region experience high levels of psychosocial injury. The identified correlates— ranging from academic discipline to parental socio-economic status—underscore the need for multifaceted, school-based interventions. These findings emphasize the importance of targeting high-risk groups to reduce the long-term impact of psychosocial distress.

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