Hygiena 2012, 57(2):44-49

Selected Aspects of Mental Health in Primary School Children in the Žilina Region

Petra Dankovičová1, Želmíra Fetisovová1, Igor Ondrejka2
1 Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta v Martine, Ústav nelekárskych študijných programov, Martin
2 Univerzitná nemocnica v Martine, Psychiatrická klinika, Martin

The aim of the study was to investigate and compare the extent of mental health (well-being, emotional balance, self-esteem and life events) of primary school pupils in terms of gender, type of school, grade and family type. The research was carried out at primary schools and an 8-grade grammar school in Zilina region. 406 pupils of 6th and 7th grades were surveyed. The average age of pupils was 12.4 years. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 12), the Affect Balance Scale (ABS), the Life Event Inventory (LEI) and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (SeS) were used in investigating the extent of mental health. The Demographic data sheet including age, gender, type of school, year/grade, family type, type of living, education of parents was created as a part of the research tools. Mann-Whitney and Chi-Square test were applied as our statistical methods. A comparison of the selected socio-demographic indicators showed significant differences. The girls reached significantly higher scores over boys in the General Health Questionnaire, in the Sub-Scale of Negative Emotions as well as in the Negative Life Event Inventory. The boys reached significantly higher scores in the Self-Esteem Scale and in the Emotional Balance Summary in comparison with the girls. The primary school pupils marked a significantly higher score in the Negative Life Event Inventory in comparison with peers in the 8-grade grammar school. The 8-grade grammar school pupils showed a significantly higher average scores in the Life Event Summary in comparison with primary school peers. The 6th grade pupils marked significantly higher average scores in the sub-scale of positive emotions, in the Emotional Balance Summary, in the Positive Life Event Inventory and in the Life Event Summary. The 7th grade pupils showed a significantly higher average score in The General Health Questionnaire. Pupils from complete families marked significantly higher average scores in the Positive Life Event Inventory and in the Life Event Summary. Pupils from incomplete families showed a significantly higher average score in the Negative Life Event Inventory.

Keywords: mental health, health indicators, children, sociodemographic indicators

Received: September 2011; Accepted: January 18, 2012; Published: June 1, 2012  Show citation

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Dankovičová P, Fetisovová Ž, Ondrejka I. Selected Aspects of Mental Health in Primary School Children in the Žilina Region. Hygiena. 2012;57(2):44-49.
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