title: Psychosocial working conditions: an analysis of emotional symptoms and conduct problems amongst adolescent students.
abstract: This study explored how psychosocial features of the schoolwork environment are associated with students' mental health. Data was drawn from 3699 ninth grade (15 year-old) Swedish students participating in the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey. Using Structural Equation Modelling, perceived school demands, decision control and social support from teachers, classmates and parents were examined in relation to students' emotional and conduct problems. Higher demands were associated with greater emotional symptoms and conduct problems. Although weaker social support predicted emotional symptoms and conduct problems, the relative influence of teachers, classmates and parents differed. Teacher support was more closely associated with conduct problems, particularly for girls, while classmate support was more strongly related to emotional symptoms. The findings indicate that while excessive school pressure is associated with poorer mental health, social support can assist in optimising adolescents' emotional health and adaptive behaviour, as well as shaping perceptions of demands.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University/Karolinska Institutet, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: stephanie.plenty@chess.su.se.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Plenty
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University/Karolinska Institutet, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Viveca
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ostberg
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University/Karolinska Institutet, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ylva B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Almquist
authors.affiliation: Swedish National Institute of Public Health (FHI), SE-831 40 Östersund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lilly
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Augustine
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University/Karolinska Institutet, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Modin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011584:Psychology; D012574:Schools / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Adolescence; Conduct problems; Emotional symptoms; School stress; Social support