Qosja Alketa, Çumashi Rudina, Burazeri Genc, Bukli Mariana, Qirjako Gentiana
Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Albania.
Institute of Public Health, Albania.
Scand J Public Health. 2025 Mar 21:14034948251326827. doi: 10.1177/14034948251326827.
Our objective was to assess the prevalence and socio-demographic distribution of a wide range of mental health indices among Albanian children.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Albania in 2022, including a nationwide representative sample of 5454 schoolchildren aged 11, 13 and 15 years (~52% girls; response rate 96%). Data on 10 mental health indices were gathered, along with socio-demographic factors of schoolchildren. General linear model and binary logistic regression were employed for assessing the associations of mental health indices with socio-demographic factors.
Overall, the prevalence of poorer mental health indices was 5.2% for not good health, 61% for feeling low, 59% for irritability, 56% for nervousness, 33% for sleep difficulties, 31% for loneliness, 16% for low mood, 36% for low self-efficacy, 15% for anxiety and 35% for negative COVID-19 impact on mental health. Girls, older schoolchildren and those whose fathers were unemployed exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of poorer mental health for most of the indices. Children from rural areas and those from less affluent families had a higher prevalence of poorer self-rated health.
Our study sheds light on the concerning prevalence of various mental health indices among Albanian children. The main findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address these challenges, particularly among vulnerable groups such as girls, older children and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Urgent action is necessary to support the mental well-being of all children, especially those who are at the highest risk.
我们的目标是评估阿尔巴尼亚儿童中广泛的心理健康指标的患病率及其社会人口学分布情况。
2022年在阿尔巴尼亚进行了一项横断面研究，纳入了全国范围内具有代表性的5454名11岁、13岁和15岁的学童样本（女孩约占52%；应答率为96%）。收集了关于10项心理健康指标的数据以及学童的社会人口学因素。采用一般线性模型和二元逻辑回归来评估心理健康指标与社会人口学因素之间的关联。
总体而言，健康状况不佳的较差心理健康指标患病率为5.2%，情绪低落为61%，易怒为59%，紧张为56%，睡眠困难为33%，孤独为31%，情绪低落为16%，自我效能感低为36%，焦虑为15%，新冠疫情对心理健康的负面影响为35%。在大多数指标中，女孩、年龄较大的学童以及父亲失业的学童心理健康较差的患病率显著更高。来自农村地区的儿童和来自较贫困家庭的儿童自评健康较差的患病率更高。
我们的研究揭示了阿尔巴尼亚儿童中各种心理健康指标令人担忧的患病率。主要研究结果强调需要采取有针对性的干预措施来应对这些挑战，特别是在女孩、年龄较大的儿童以及经济弱势背景的儿童等弱势群体中。必须立即采取行动来支持所有儿童的心理健康，尤其是那些风险最高的儿童。
