INTRODUCTION:

Understanding and knowing are the foundation stones of promotion to continuing care pathways (in all components)

The period of growing up to an adult from a child is known as adolescence. Adolescence is one of the important stage in the life span of a human being. It is the phase when very rapid changes take place both physically as well as psychologically. An adolescent has to adjust to the changes taking place in his/her body and behavior. Some of the critical issues include substance abuse, suicide, teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease and AIDS.

Adolescence has frequently been called “the tumultuous teens”. As defined by the World Health Organization, adolescence is the period between 13 and 17 years. These are the formative as well as impressionable years when the maximum amount of physical, psychological and behavioral changes take place. Adolescence is the transition from a “child” into an “adult”.¹

A study was conducted on the sample of young adults from urban, socio-economically disadvantaged communities reported high rates of adverse childhood experiences. The public health impact of childhood adversity is evident in the very strong association between childhood adversity and depressive symptoms, antisocial behavior, and drug use during the early transition to adulthood. These findings, coupled with evidence that the impact of major childhood adversities persists well into adulthood, indicate the critical need for prevention and intervention strategies targeting early adverse experiences and their mental health consequences.²

The mental health of adolescents and young people is affected by a variety of environmental factors, including family environment, school and continuing education, social and economic status, as well as poverty and deprivation. Mental Health Promotion in this age range can be viewed as a complex and dynamic process, which is dependent on a broad spectrum of policies and practices implemented in schools, Problems in adolescence vary considerably and can range from minor behavioral problems to severely disabling illnesses (depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, etc.).³

Therefore , the mental health of adolescents and young people therefore is a crucial issue, as it has an impact not only on the health of this generation currently in this age group but also for them in their future adult years. These problems limit young people’s ability to be productive and can affect their academic achievement, cause family conflicts, lead to substance abuse, violence, eating disorders, and sometimes even suicide. In addition to the distress they cause, they can also be very costly not only to families, but also to the community and the health and social systems as a whole

NEED OF THE STUDY:

Despite the multitude of factors which can influence the development of adolescents, their mental well-being is crucial. Adolescents must learn how to cope with psychological stress, handle peer pressure, deal with their emotions, resolve conflicts, build bridges with friends and family, develop self-confidence, safeguard themselves from high pressure marketing strategies, particularly of the alcohol industry, as well as cope with other stresses like academic competition and a hankering for material gains. Mental health affects an estimated 450 million people worldwide, 1 in 5 adolescents experiences mental health problems. Where as in India the mental disorder is prevalent among 1.1% of adolescents.⁴

Despite markedly different national suicide rates, the prevalence of self-harm in Scotland is similar to that in England with girls at least three times more likely to report self-harm than boys. The findings suggest a role for emotional literacy programs in schools and highlight the importance of promoting positive mental health among adolescents.⁵

During the clinical field experience in mental hospital and from various studies, newspapers, journals and books researcher came to know that the adolescence phase of life is having lots of alterations not only in physique but also in psychological. They are having the less knowledge regarding the mental health and its promotion. So being as the psychiatric nurse this is our responsibility to identify knowledge regarding the promotion of mental health among the adolescent group, so researcher will assess knowledge regarding the promotion of mental health among adolescent group and give them information booklet which will help them to promote their mental health.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

An exploratory study to assess the knowledge regarding the promotion of mental health among adolescents in selected school of Moga, Punjab.

OBJECTIVES:

· To assess the level of knowledge regarding the promotion of mental health among adolescents.

· To find out the association between knowledge and selected demographic variables such as age, gender, educational status, mother educational status, father educational status, family monthly income, religion, type of family, source of information, residential area.

· To develop an information booklet on promotion of mental health.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS:

1. Knowledge:

It refers to the factual information of adolescents regarding the promotion of mental health.

2. Promotion of mental health:

It refers to a state of well being in which the individual realizes owns abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to community.

3. Adolescent:

It refers to students who are belong to 10^th and 12^th standard at selected school.

ASSUMPTION:

Adolescents studying in 10^th and 12^th standard will be having good knowledge regarding the promotion of mental health.

DELIMITATIONS:

1. Study was limited to the students studying in the 10^th and 12^th standard.

2. Who were willing to participate in this study are included.

3. Adolescents who know the English and Punjabi languages.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Research methods are the techniques used by researchers to structure a study and to gather and analysis information relevant to the research questions

RESEARCH APPROACH:

For the present study the exploratory approach was considered appropriate as it aimed to assess the knowledge regarding the promotion of mental health among adolescents according to selected demographic variables such as age, gender, educational status, mother educational status, father educational status, family monthly income, religion, type of family, source of information, residential area.

RESEARCH DESIGN:

For the present study non experiment research design was utilized to achieve the objectives of the study.

VARIABLES:

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES:

Age, gender, educational status, mother educational status, father educational status, family monthly income, religion, type of family, source of information, residential area.

DEPENDENT VARIABLES:

Level of knowledge of adolescents studying in 10^th and 12^th standard regarding the promotion of mental health.

RESEARCH SETTING:

The present study conducted in Government Senior Secondary School Bughipura, Moga , Punjab.

POPULATION:

The population of present study was adolescents who are studying in 10^thand 12^th standard in Government Senior Secondary School Bughipura, Moga, Punjab.

SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUE:

The total sample was 100. Systematic randomization sampling technique was used to select the adolescents from school.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. Study will include the adolescents who studying in the 10^th and 12^th standard.

2. Who were willing to participate in this study are included.

3. Adolescents who know the English and Punjabi language are included in this study.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Who are not willing to participate in this study.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TOOL:

The tool consists of following parts:-

Part 1- Sample characteristics:

The part consists of items for obtaining personal information about subjects such as age, gender, educational status, mother educational status, father educational status, family monthly income, religion, type of family, source of information, residential area.

Part II- A self structured Questionnaire to assess the knowledge regarding the 0promotion of mental health. This part consists of multiple choice questions regarding promotion of mental health. A total of 30 questions are included and each question has a score of one mark each. Maximum score is 30 and minimum score is 0.

RELIABILITY OF THE TOOL:

Reliability of the tool was estimated by split half technique and was calculated by Spearman Brown’s Prophacy formula and the reliability of knowledge of the adolescent assessment score was r = 0.9 so the tool was highly reliable.

DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE:

The sample was consisted of 100 subjects, systematic randomization sampling technique was used to select the adolescents from school. The data collection procedure was done after getting the written permission from principal of Government Senior Secondary School Bughipura Moga. Prior to handling over the questionnaire to adolescents, investigator gave self introduction to the adolescents and explains the purpose of gathering the information. They were assured that their responses will keep confidential and use only for research purposes. The time was taken by each respondent to fill questionnaire is about 45 minutes.

DIFFICULITIES FACED BY INVESTIGATOR:

1. Getting permission from the school to conduct study.

2. Researcher found some difficulty regarding transportation to reach the research area.

PLAN FOR DATA ANALYSIS:

Plan of the data analysis and interpretation of data was done in accordance with the objectives. It was done by using descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency distribution, chi – square test. Pie and bar diagrams were used to depict the findings of the study.

RESULT:

Section I: Sample characteristics:

Present study was conducted on 100 sample. Adolescents are distributed into various categories according to age, gender, educational status, mother educational status, father educational status, family monthly income, religion, type of family, source of information, residential area.

According to age in years, maximum number of adolescents (60%) were in age group of 16 – 17 years followed by (40%) of them were in the age group of 14 – 15 years.

According to gender, (53%) of adolescents were males followed by (47%) adolescents were females.

According to educational status, (50%) adolescents were in 10^th standard whereas (50%) adolescents were in 12^th standard.

According to mother’s educational status, maximum number of adolescents (38%) were those whose mothers were illiterate and (24%) of adolescents had primary passed mothers respectively. Whereas (13%) adolescents were those whose mother’s had qualification of matric and higher graduation. Furthermore (12%) adolescents had middle class passed mothers.

According to educational status of father, maximum number of adolescents (30%) were those whose father were primary passed, followed by (21%) of them had illiterate father whereas (19%) of adolescents were those whose fathers were matric passed and (18%) adolescents’ father were middle passed respectively. only (12%) adolescents had father who were educated up to higher graduation.

According to family monthly income, maximum number of adolescents (59%) were those whose family monthly income was less than Rs 5000,(31%) followed by Rs 5001 – 10,000 respectively. Whereas (9%) adolescents were those whose family monthly income was between Rs 10,001 – 15,000.

According to religion, maximum number of adolescents (80%) were belonged to Sikh religion followed by (20%) adolescents were from Hindu family.

According to family type, maximum number of adolescents (64%) were belongs to nuclear family, followed by (25%) of adolescents were belongs to joint family and (11%) of adolescents were from extended family respectively.

According to source of information, maximum number of adolescents (45%) got information from their parents followed by (43%) of them got information from teachers. Whereas (12%) of them were got information from health personnel.

According to residential area, (61%) adolescents were from rural area where as (39%) of adolescents were living in urban area.

Section II: findings related to knowledge of promotion of mental health among adolescents.

60 % of adolescents had average knowledge score and 30% of adolescents had below average knowledge score. Whereas only 10% of adolescents had good knowledge score.

DISCUSSION:

Mental health is a major part of health in various aspects. Due to lack of importance of mental health, adolescence face many psychological problems in future. So, “An exploratory study to assess the knowledge regarding the promotion of mental health among adolescents in selected school of Moga, Punjab.” Thus the main aim of the study is to assess the knowledge regarding promotion of mental health among adolescents.

In the connection with the above, exploratory study was undertaken with the purpose of assessing the knowledge regarding promotion of mental health. To achieve the objectives 100 adolescents were selected as sample on different sample characteristics.

In the present study findings shows that maximum number of adolescents (60%) had average knowledge score and (30%) of adolescents had below average knowledge score. Whereas (10%) of adolescents had good knowledge score.

CONCLUSION:

The present study showed that most of adolescents had below average knowledge and a very few of them had good knowledge about the promotion of mental health. Instead of all selected demographic variables only age, gender and father educational status had significant impact on their knowledge.

REFERENCES:

1. WHO, adolescents health.2012. Available from :http://www.searo.who.int.EN/section 1570-6723htm.

2. Schilling EA et al. adverse childhood experience and mental health in young adults: a longitudinal survey. Available from).http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/7/30.

3. Dictionary of European Commission, mental health promotion of adolescents and young people.2000.

4. WHO, adolescents health.2012. Available from :http://www.searo.who.int.EN/section 1570-6723htm.

5. Mental health irland, prevalence of self harm in Scotland. 2008. http://www.mental health irland.ie/information/mental-health-promotion.html.

Received on 28.12.2016 Modified on 13.01.2017

Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2017; 5(3): 282-286.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2660.2017.00058.8