Investigating the Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Students of Izeh City in 2019

Psychological-behavioral disorder is a significant clinical condition that is associated with a change in thinking, mood, emotion, or specific behavior as well as life dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of mental disorders in high school students in Izeh city, Iran, in the academic year of 2019-2020, using a survey design [cross-sectional].

The current research was conducted following survey research of cross-sectional method with an applied purpose. A total of 362 students were selected using multistage random sampling among female and male high school students of Iezh city of Kuzestan Prominence. All participants filled Mental Disorders Symptoms Questionnaire (SCL-90-R). Data were analyzed using statistics measurements of frequency and frequency percent, and multivariate analysis of variance by SPSS version 22.

The results indicated that 22.7% [n = 82] of the total sample [CI0.95 =18.42-17.02], 32.6% [n = 59] of girls and 12.7% [n = 23] of boys; 17.5% [n = 21] of tenth academic grade students; 24.8% [n = 30] of eleventh academic grade students and 25.6% [n = 31] of twelfth academic grade students; and 20.4% [n = 28] students of humanity science field, 25.5% [n = 48] students of experimental science field, and 16.2% [n = 37] students of mathematics-physics field students were suspected to mental disorders.

According to the obtained reports, the mental health officials of the Education Organization and the relevant community officials should take appropriate actions to promote the mental health and well-being of adolescent male and female students.