Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Type
Submission
Department
Nutritional Science
Major
BS Biology, BA Chemistry
Abstract
Background: Adolescent mental health is an understudied priority area for global health. While loneliness is recognized as a concern for all ages worldwide, little research has examined how social isolation may be linked to social distrust. Lack of trust in neighbors, peers, governments, healthcare systems, and other institutions may lead to greater social polarization and, by extension, to a worsening of the global loneliness crisis.
Methods: The Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) uses a standardized two- stage cluster sampling method and a validated questionnaire to examine health and risk behaviors among nationally-representative samples of secondary school students ages 13 to 17 years in participating countries. We examined the associations between social isolation (loneliness and/or friendlessness) and social distrust (perceptions that classmates are unkind and/or parents are uncaring) among 333,980 adolescents in the 84 countries that included all four of the relevant questions in their GSHS survey instruments.
Findings: An average of 53% of students in each country (standard deviation 11%) reported that their classmates were rarely or never kind and/or their parents rarely or never understood their problems and worries, and about 19% (standard deviation 6%) reported that they felt lonely most of the time or always and/or had no close friends. The prevalence rates were similar for boys and girls. In 72 of 84 countries (86%), there was a statistically significant association between expressing at least one social distrust characteristic (classmates unkind and/or parents not supportive) and at least one type of social isolation (lonely and/or no close friends).
Interpretation: Studies that look for similarities and differences across world regions and country income levels are critical for advancing global health theory, policy, and practice. Our analysis confirms that loneliness is a common adolescent experience across boys and girls in all countries, and it reveals a new link between social isolation and social distrust. School- and community-based interventions that promote a culture of kindness and empathy to build social trust may make a positive impact on the social and mental health of school-attending adolescents by increasing social connectedness and reducing levels of loneliness.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Loan P Kim
Location
Waves Cafeteria
Start Date
22-3-2024 1:30 PM
End Date
22-3-2024 2:30 PM
Perceptions of peer kindness, parental understanding, and social isolation among adolescents in 84 countries
Waves Cafeteria
Background: Adolescent mental health is an understudied priority area for global health. While loneliness is recognized as a concern for all ages worldwide, little research has examined how social isolation may be linked to social distrust. Lack of trust in neighbors, peers, governments, healthcare systems, and other institutions may lead to greater social polarization and, by extension, to a worsening of the global loneliness crisis.
Methods: The Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) uses a standardized two- stage cluster sampling method and a validated questionnaire to examine health and risk behaviors among nationally-representative samples of secondary school students ages 13 to 17 years in participating countries. We examined the associations between social isolation (loneliness and/or friendlessness) and social distrust (perceptions that classmates are unkind and/or parents are uncaring) among 333,980 adolescents in the 84 countries that included all four of the relevant questions in their GSHS survey instruments.
Findings: An average of 53% of students in each country (standard deviation 11%) reported that their classmates were rarely or never kind and/or their parents rarely or never understood their problems and worries, and about 19% (standard deviation 6%) reported that they felt lonely most of the time or always and/or had no close friends. The prevalence rates were similar for boys and girls. In 72 of 84 countries (86%), there was a statistically significant association between expressing at least one social distrust characteristic (classmates unkind and/or parents not supportive) and at least one type of social isolation (lonely and/or no close friends).
Interpretation: Studies that look for similarities and differences across world regions and country income levels are critical for advancing global health theory, policy, and practice. Our analysis confirms that loneliness is a common adolescent experience across boys and girls in all countries, and it reveals a new link between social isolation and social distrust. School- and community-based interventions that promote a culture of kindness and empathy to build social trust may make a positive impact on the social and mental health of school-attending adolescents by increasing social connectedness and reducing levels of loneliness.