Mental health among high school students in South Africa: Roles of childhood adversity, bullying behaviour, peer pressure, and self-esteem

Abstract

We explored the relationship between childhood adversity, bullying, peer pressure, self-esteem, and mental health among South African high school students. Adolescents (n = 769, mean age = 15.83 years, SD = 1.85 years, range = 12–22 years) completed a cross-sectional survey. Based on descriptive analyses, 31.3% of participants experienced no distress, 65.1% experienced mild distress, and 3.5% experienced severe distress. Results indicated significant positive correlations between childhood adversity and bullying with mental health challenges, while peer pressure served as a mediator in these relationships. No significant indirect effects involving self-esteem were observed. Both sex and grade level demonstrated positive correlations with mental health issues, suggesting specific demographic influences on these outcomes. The study’s findings underscore the intricate interplay of factors affecting adolescents’ mental health, emphasising the necessity of targeted interventions to address these complex dynamics effectively.