Psychosocial Well-Being of Adolescents in School Settings: Findings from Erbil, Iraq
Abdulmalik Saber, Nechirwan Majeed, Sarfraz Masih, Mohammad Karimirad, Farshad Sharifi, Arpi Manookian
Apex Medical Journal, 2026, Volume 1, Issue 1
Psychosocial problems are increasingly recognized among adolescents and may negatively affect emotional well-being, academic performance, and social functioning. This study assessed the prevalence of psychosocial difficulties and their demographic, lifestyle, and academic correlates among secondary school students in Erbil city. A total of 557 students participated, with a mean psychosocial score of 27.8 ± 13.3. Nearly half of the students (49.7%, 95% CI: 45.5–53.9) screened positive for psychosocial difficulties. Positive screening increased significantly across grade levels, from 40.1% among 10th-grade students to 57.1% among 12th-grade students (p = 0.004), and higher scores were also observed among female and older students. Longer daily screen time and shorter sleep duration were significantly associated with higher psychosocial scores (p < 0.001), while regression analysis identified screen time, sleep duration, and grade level as independent predictors of psychosocial difficulties. These findings indicate that psychosocial difficulties are common among secondary school students and are associated with both academic level and modifiable lifestyle factors. School-based screening, early identification, and culturally appropriate psychosocial support may help identify students requiring further assessment and reduce the burden of adolescent psychological distress.