Anxiety Unveiled: A Cross-Sectional Study on High School Students in Rural Tamil Nadu
Background: Adolescence is a unique phase of human growth, marked by rapid cognitive, psycho-social, and physical development. Despite being a period of resilience, mental illnesses often begin during this stage. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety disorders among high school st...
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| Language: | English |
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Medsci Publications
2024-12-01
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| Series: | National Journal of Community Medicine |
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| Online Access: | http://njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/4573 |
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| author | Rajan Edward Daniel Thomas Vedapriya Dande Rajasekar Sanjutha Arumugam Harishma Ramesh Vinoth Gnana Chellaiyan Vigneshsamy Muthuchamy |
| author_facet | Rajan Edward Daniel Thomas Vedapriya Dande Rajasekar Sanjutha Arumugam Harishma Ramesh Vinoth Gnana Chellaiyan Vigneshsamy Muthuchamy |
| author_sort | Rajan Edward Daniel Thomas |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Background: Adolescence is a unique phase of human growth, marked by rapid cognitive, psycho-social, and physical development. Despite being a period of resilience, mental illnesses often begin during this stage. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety disorders among high school students in rural Tamil Nadu.
Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in high schools in the rural areas of Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu. High school students aged 12 to 15 years of both genders were included using a systematic random sampling method. A total of 234 students were interviewed using the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS-Child) questionnaire to assess anxiety levels. Qualitative variables were described using mean and standard deviation, and ANOVA was applied to explore associations between anxiety and determining factors.
Results: Panic/agoraphobia emerged as the most common anxiety disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder and social phobia were higher in girls, while panic/agoraphobia, fear of physical injury, general, and separation anxiety were more prevalent in boys. Children with fathers in white-collar jobs showed higher panic/agoraphobia and general anxiety (Mean±SD: 12.13±4.5, p < 0.02), while those from lower socioeconomic classes had more separation anxiety (Mean±SD: 6.86±2.7, p < 0.02). Anxiety disorders were higher among children from joint or three-generation families.
Conclusion: There is a significant prevalence of anxiety among adolescents, with clear correlations to sociodemographic factors. Enhancing protective factors and addressing modifiable risks at the school level is crucial to improving adolescent mental health services.
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| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0976-3325 2229-6816 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Medsci Publications |
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| series | National Journal of Community Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-93d583ab1fbf42aaa0c50c25126be3dd2025-08-20T01:56:56ZengMedsci PublicationsNational Journal of Community Medicine0976-33252229-68162024-12-01151210.55489/njcm.151220244573Anxiety Unveiled: A Cross-Sectional Study on High School Students in Rural Tamil NaduRajan Edward Daniel Thomas0Vedapriya Dande Rajasekar1Sanjutha Arumugam2Harishma Ramesh 3Vinoth Gnana Chellaiyan 4Vigneshsamy Muthuchamy5Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, IndiaChettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, IndiaChettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, IndiaChettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, IndiaChettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, IndiaChettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, India Background: Adolescence is a unique phase of human growth, marked by rapid cognitive, psycho-social, and physical development. Despite being a period of resilience, mental illnesses often begin during this stage. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety disorders among high school students in rural Tamil Nadu. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in high schools in the rural areas of Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu. High school students aged 12 to 15 years of both genders were included using a systematic random sampling method. A total of 234 students were interviewed using the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS-Child) questionnaire to assess anxiety levels. Qualitative variables were described using mean and standard deviation, and ANOVA was applied to explore associations between anxiety and determining factors. Results: Panic/agoraphobia emerged as the most common anxiety disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder and social phobia were higher in girls, while panic/agoraphobia, fear of physical injury, general, and separation anxiety were more prevalent in boys. Children with fathers in white-collar jobs showed higher panic/agoraphobia and general anxiety (Mean±SD: 12.13±4.5, p < 0.02), while those from lower socioeconomic classes had more separation anxiety (Mean±SD: 6.86±2.7, p < 0.02). Anxiety disorders were higher among children from joint or three-generation families. Conclusion: There is a significant prevalence of anxiety among adolescents, with clear correlations to sociodemographic factors. Enhancing protective factors and addressing modifiable risks at the school level is crucial to improving adolescent mental health services. http://njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/4573AdolescentsMental healthAnxietyRuralStudents |
| spellingShingle | Rajan Edward Daniel Thomas Vedapriya Dande Rajasekar Sanjutha Arumugam Harishma Ramesh Vinoth Gnana Chellaiyan Vigneshsamy Muthuchamy Anxiety Unveiled: A Cross-Sectional Study on High School Students in Rural Tamil Nadu National Journal of Community Medicine Adolescents Mental health Anxiety Rural Students |
| title | Anxiety Unveiled: A Cross-Sectional Study on High School Students in Rural Tamil Nadu |
| title_full | Anxiety Unveiled: A Cross-Sectional Study on High School Students in Rural Tamil Nadu |
| title_fullStr | Anxiety Unveiled: A Cross-Sectional Study on High School Students in Rural Tamil Nadu |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anxiety Unveiled: A Cross-Sectional Study on High School Students in Rural Tamil Nadu |
| title_short | Anxiety Unveiled: A Cross-Sectional Study on High School Students in Rural Tamil Nadu |
| title_sort | anxiety unveiled a cross sectional study on high school students in rural tamil nadu |
| topic | Adolescents Mental health Anxiety Rural Students |
| url | http://njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/4573 |
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