Association between interpersonal relationship among high-school students and mental health

OBJECTIVES: Adolescents have many anxieties, and having someone to consult is important for them to maintain their mental health. This study examines: whether students have someone to consult; if they have, whether there are differences in their depressive state and in their degree of satisfaction with their school lives depending on whom they consult; and how their mental health is affected by their human relations. METHODS: Persons whom high-school students consult about their worries, Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children (DSRS-C), and satisfaction of high-school students with their school lives were surveyed in 2,646 students of public high schools in A Prefecture, and the persons selected for consultation were classified into four groups ("no one," "friends," "adults," and "friends and adults") and analyzed. RESULTS: In terms of whom they consult we found that high-school students, especially girls, frequently consult "friends and adults." Mean DSRS-C score was significantly higher for those who consulted "no one" than for those who consulted "friends" or "friends and adults." Regarding hopelessness, the mean score of those who consulted "no one" was significantly higher than for those who consulted "friends and adults." Those who consulted "no one" had significantly lower mean score for satisfaction with school life than did those who consulted "friends and adults." CONCLUSIONS: Most of the students selected "friends and adults" for persons to consult, but boys were more likely to have "no one" to consult. Students (boys and girls) having no one to consult are likely to be more depressive and less satisfied with their school lives.