family structure

Introduction Adolescents’ subjective well-being has been widely studied across different family structures. However, little is known about the role of basic psychological needs in the subjective well-being of adolescents living in different family structures or in residential care. The present study addresses this gap. Methods The sample comprised 5,295 adolescents aged 10 -16 years ( M age =13.20, SD=1.50) living in intact families (65%), single-parent families (21%), stepparent families (12%), or residential care (2%). Participants completed self-report measures of basic psychological need satisfaction at home, subjective well-being (affective and cognitive components), and perceived family affluence. Results Structural equation modeling showed significant indirect associations between family structure and adolescents’ subjective well-being through basic psychological need satisfaction at home, including a sequential indirect association through perceived family affluence and basic psychological need satisfaction. Living in residential care was also indirectly associated with adolescents’ subjective well-being through basic psychological need satisfaction at home, whereas the direct association was not statistically significant. The results show that adolescents living in intact families reported the highest level of basic psychological need satisfaction at home, followed by those in single-parent and stepparent families, while adolescents in residential care reported the lowest level. Discussion The findings provide evidence that the association between family and care contexts and adolescents’ subjective well-being is statistically mediated by basic psychological need satisfaction at home. The results are discussed in light of the value of parental and caregiver support for adolescents’ basic psychological needs in different family types and care.

Depression is a leading cause of illness and disability among adolescents worldwide, yet evidence on its burden among school-going adolescents in rural Kenyan counties remains limited. This study determined the prevalence and socio-demographic factors of depression among secondary school students in Bungoma County, Kenya, to provide baseline evidence for mental health planning. The study was guided by Hopelessness Theory of Depression and Ecological Systems Theory. An analytical mixed methods cross-sectional study design was adopted. The target population consisted of secondary school students, with a sample size of 400 respondents determined using Taro Yamane formula. The respondents were selected through multistage stratified and systematic sampling from three sub-counties of Bungoma County (Mt. Elgon, Kimilili and Bungoma South). Quantitative data were collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and a structured questionnaire, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression in SPSS version 28. Qualitative data were obtained through ten Focus group discussions with students and twelve in-depth interviews with class teachers, and analyzed thematically. The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score ≥ 5) was 55.5% (n = 222), 41.5% (n = 166) had mild depression, 9.5% (n = 38) moderate depression, 3.5% (n = 14) moderately severe depression and 1.0% (n = 4) severe depression, while 44.5% (n = 178) were not depressed. Female students were found to be almost twice as likely to experience higher levels of depression compared to the males (AOR= 1.71, P= 0.04). On the other hand, students in mixed day and boarding schools were 78% less likely to experience higher level of depression, (AOR = 0.22, P<0.001), compared to those in girls’ boarding and day schools. Further, students who live with extended family were more than twice as likely as those with both parents to experience higher depression levels (AOR = 2.10, P= 0.04). The qualitative data pointed to gender and family structure as possible associations of depression. Depression is highly prevalent among secondary school students in Bungoma County, with one in seven students experiencing moderate to severe depression. Routine school-based mental health screening using validated tools such as the PHQ-9 is recommended to enable early identification, counselling and referral of affected students.