Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Mental Health Outcomes among Adolescents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47672/ejhs.1918Keywords:
Socioeconomic Status, Mental Health, AdolescentsAbstract
Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of socioeconomic status on mental health outcomes among adolescents.
Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
Findings: The study highlights a significant relationship between the two factors. Studies suggest that adolescents from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are at a heightened risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes compared to their peers from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. This association is attributed to various interconnected factors, including limited access to quality healthcare services, higher levels of stress due to financial strain, inadequate social support networks, exposure to adverse living conditions, and increased likelihood of experiencing trauma and violence. Adolescents from lower SES backgrounds often face barriers in accessing mental health resources, such as therapy and counseling, which can exacerbate their mental health challenges.
Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social determinants of health theory, social stress theory and ecological systems theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the impact of socioeconomic status on mental health outcomes among adolescents. Practitioners working with adolescents should implement evidence-based interventions that address the unique challenges faced by socioeconomically disadvantaged youth. Policymakers should prioritize policies that address the structural determinants of socioeconomic disparities and promote equity in access to resources and opportunities.
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