A possible contributor to the higher degree of girls reporting psychological symptoms compared with boys in grade nine?
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.
Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden. katja.gillander-gadin@miun.se
Katja Gillander
KG
Gådin
Anne
A
Hammarström
D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*