Citation

Gadin KG, Hammarström A. Eur. J. Public Health 2005; 15(4): 380-385.

Affiliation

Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden. katja.gillander-gadin@miun.se

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/eurpub/cki097

PMID

15975950

Abstract

 BACKGROUND: It is a recurrent finding that adolescent girls report psychological symptoms in a higher degree compared with boys. The explanations for this difference vary, but the psychosocial school environment has never been a focus in these explanations. The aim of this study was to analyse whether psychosocial factors at school were associated with a high degree of psychological symptoms among boys and girls in grade nine, with a special focus on sexual harassment. METHODS: The study was based on a cross-sectional study including 336 pupils (175 girls and 161 boys) in grade nine (about 15 years old), who answered an extensive questionnaire. The non-response rate was negligible (<1%). Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse whether school-related factors (teacher support, classmate support, sexual harassment), body image, and parental support were associated with a high degree of psychological symptoms. RESULTS: Sexual harassment at school was associated with a high degree of psychological symptoms among girls. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual harassment must be acknowledged as a negative psychosocial school environmental factor of importance for the high degree of psychological ill-health symptoms among girls compared with boys.

Language: en