Topic: Factors Associated with Psychosocial Dysfunctions Among In-School Adolescents in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract Background Adolescents commonly experience psychosocial problems which are further heightened by hostile home and school environments. This study was conducted to examine the factors associated with psychosocial dysfunction among high school adolescents in Osun state. Method A descriptive cross-sectional study design involving 494 respondents drawn from eight high schools via a multistage sampling technique. Data was collected via a pre-tested facilitated self-administered questionnaire with which psychosocial status was determined using the Paediatric symptoms checklist. Data analysis was achieved through IBM SPSS version 20.0 and pertinent univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were done with a p-value < 0.05 taken as statistically significant. Results A tenth (10.7%) of the respondents had dysfunctional psychosocial status. Age, religion family factors (family type, parental educational status) as well as several school factors, including those pertaining to psychosocial conditions at school were all significantly associated with psychosocial status. School type, “promotion of the rights of boys and girls through equal opportunities at schools” and “feeling on arrival to school on most days” were associated with psychosocial functioning with respondents in public schools nine times less likely to have a dysfunctional psychosocial status (AOR = 0.106). Conclusion A tenth of the adolescents had dysfunctional psychosocial status. School-related factors appear to be more significantly associated with psychosocial functioning than personal and home factors. Measures to improve the psychosocial conditions at school should be put in place by concerned stakeholders.