This study examined the prevalence of multiple health risk behaviours, the clustering patterns of health risk behaviours, the association between socio-demographic characteristics, psychological distress and clusters and the relationship between number of health risk behaviours and psychological distress among adolescents in Ghana. Participants were senior high school (SHS) students aged 11–19 years who participated in the 2012 Global School-based Students Health Survey (n = 1763). Five health risk behaviours (smoking tobacco, inadequate fruit intake, inadequate vegetable intake, alcohol intake and physical inactivity) were measured. Participants were classified to be at risk if they indicated they smoked tobacco, did not eat fruit ≥ 2 times a day and vegetables ≥ 5 a day, drank alcohol during the past 30 days and did not engage in physical activity for ≥ 60 min per day during the past 7 days. Latent class analysis and latent regression were used to identify the clusters and factors associated with the clusters respectively. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between number of health risk behaviours and psychological distress. The prevalence of multiple health risk behaviours (2 or more) was 94.8%. Two clusters emerged: Cluster 1 (“Poor nutrition, inactive, low substance use cluster ”; 91%); Cluster 2 (“High Risk Cluster”; 9%). Using cluster 1 as a reference group, adolescents in the 11–15 years category had lower odds of belonging to cluster 2 (OR = 0.21 CI 0.05–0.91, ρ = 0.036) while those experiencing symptoms of depression had higher odds of belonging to cluster 2 (OR = 2.45 CI 1.45–4.14, ρ = 0.001). No significant relationship was found between number of health risk behaviour and psychological distress. Health risk behaviours cluster among adolescents with age and depression associated with the identified clusters. Early interventions that target these clusters are needed at the individual, school and community level to mitigate the burden of non-communicable diseases.

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Presence of meaning in life is an important component of eudemonic wellbeing while aging. While subjective health and interpersonal relationships are among important sources of meaning for older adults, less research has explored the gender differences in the potential contribution of these sources to the presence of meaning in late life. The current study aims to examine the associations of frailty dimensions (daily activities, health problems, and psychosocial functioning) and social support with the presence of meaning in late life, and whether these associations differ for older men and women. The study employs the data from the 65+ and Safe Study – a cross-sectional survey of residents of senior apartments. The data were collected in 2019 in a mid-sized Swedish municipality (N=618; age range from 64 to 106years, 60.5% female). Results showed significant associations of health problems, psychosocial functioning, and social support with the presence of meaning in life. Further, the results demonstrated no statistically significant gender differences in the associations between frailty dimensions, social support, and presence of meaning. However, since the interaction between health problems and gender approached statistical significance, this association was further explored indicating a more detrimental role of health problems in relation to the presence of meaning in life among older men than among older women. Overall, the study highlights the importance of physical and psychosocial health and social support for the presence of meaning in life among older adults and warrants further research on possible gender differences in the relation between health problems and meaning in late life.

Purpose Pain and stress-related ill-health are major causes of long-term disability and sick leave. This study evaluated the effects of a brief psychosocial program, which previously has been tested for an at-risk population of employees. Methods The Effective Communication within the Organization (ECO) program, where supervisors and employees were trained in communication and problem solving, was compared to an active control consisting of psychoeducative lectures (PE) about pain and stress in a cluster randomized controlled trial. First-line supervisors were randomized to ECO or PE, and a total of 191 mainly female employees with self-reported pain and/or stress-related ill-health were included. The hybrid format programs consisted of 2–3 group sessions. Sick leave data was collected from social insurance registers, before and 6-months after the program. Secondary outcomes (work ability, work limitations, pain-disability risk, exhaustion symptoms, perceived stress, perceived health, quality of life, perceived communication and support from supervisors) were assessed at baseline, post intervention, and at 6-months follow-up. Results No effects were observed on primary or secondary outcome variables. Pain symptoms were common (89%), however a lower proportion (30%) were identified as at risk for long-term pain disability, which might explain the lack of evident effects. The Covid-19 pandemic affected participation rates and delivery of intervention. Conclusion In this study, preventive effects of the ECO program were not supported. Altogether, the findings point at the importance of selecting participants for prevention based on screening of psychosocial risk. Further research on workplace communication and support, and impact on employee health is warranted.

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