Predictive Value of Contextual Factors and Life Skills in Secondary School Male Student's Mental Health in Ray County, Iran

Mental health plays a vital role in psycho-social development of an individual in various periods of life, particularly during adolescence. Addressing the mental health problems of adolescents is considered as a global health promotion and disease prevention priority. The aim of this study was to assess the mental health status of adolescent boys and determine the role of contextual factors and life skills in predicting mental health of the students in 2016 and present n appropriate model.
This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 550 secondary male school tudents, selected by cluster random sampling, in Ray County, Iran. Data were collected using a standard valid General Health Questionnaires (GHQ-28) and a life skills questionnaire and analyzed using the SPSS software 22.0, the statistical tests being Chi-square and logistic regression.
Analysis of the data showed that 46.9% of the students were suspected of having mental health problems, the rest (53.1%) having no disorder. The most common disorder (56%) was in the social functioning. As regards life skills, the proportions of the students with a low, moderate and high life skills were 35.3%, 32.5% and 32.2%, respectively. Statistically significant correlations were found between mental health and its four dimensions on the one hand and the independent variables, namely, self-awareness, decision-making and age on the other.
The findings indicate a fairly moderate prevalence of mental disorders among the students and demonstrate the role of life skills training in promotimg mental health in adolescents and the youth.