Edmond Kwesi Agormedah
3 Publications in AERD
Author Publications
Export PDFEffects of Gender and Age Interaction on Sense of Coherence and Subjective Well-Being of Senior High School Students in Northern Ghana
By Edmond Kwesi Agormedah
Though several studies have established the effect of gender and age on the sense of coherence (SoC) and subjective well-being (SWB) among diverse populations, findings have been varied and inconclusive. These inconsistencies have been attributed to the differences in sample characteristics, methodological and cultural disparities. Thus, the present study assessed the following: (1) gender and age effect on SoC, (2) gender and age effect on SWB, and (3) moderating roles of gender and age in the link between SoC and SWB. Through a stratified sampling technique, 724 selected high school students from secondary schools in Northern Ghana completed the World Health Organization-5 Well-Being and Sense of Coherence instruments. The results showed that female students exhibited higher levels of SoC compared to their male counterparts. Whereas younger male and female students showed no significant difference in SWB levels, older female students, compared to older males, exhibited high levels of SWB. Age significantly moderated the relationship between SoC and SWB. With the same level of SoC, younger students were more likely to exhibit higher SWB compared to older ones. The findings call for sustainable gender- and age-based interventions because students subjectively develop SoC mechanisms for improving their well-being. © 2024 by the authors.
Gender-Based Biopsychosocial Correlates of Truancy in Physical Education: A National Survey among Adolescents in Benin
By Medina Srem-Sai
Truancy among in-school adolescents has long been established as a major issue that negatively impacts educational attainment or goals and mental health-related issues. However, research on subjects such as physical education (PE) truancy and its correlates is somewhat limited. This study estimated the prevalence of PE and assessed the factors associated with PE truancy in Benin among in-school adolescents. The 2016 Benin’s Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS) data from a sample of in-school adolescents (n = 2496; 13–17 years) were used for data analysis. The overall prevalence of past 30-day truancy in PE class was 15.4%, with female adolescents reporting a higher prevalence of PE truancy than their male counterparts. Stratified by gender, the regression analyses showed that males in 3rd–6th grade (aOR = 0.69, CI = 0.50–0.96) experiencing hunger (aOR = 0.51, CI = 0.32–0.81) and having suicidal ideations (aOR = 1.64, CI = 1.07–2.53) predisposed adolescents to PE truant behaviour. For female in-school adolescents experiencing hunger (aOR = 1.75, CI = 1.15–2.65), drinking alcohol (aOR = 0.62, CI = 0.44–0.87), having sedentary lifestyles (aOR = 0.62, CI = 0.40–0.96), and being physically attacked (aOR = 0.53, CI = 0.33–0.87) were significantly associated with PE truancy. However, understanding and supportive parents [aOR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.41–0.91] was a protective factor against PE truancy. The present findings suggest the design of gender-sensitive school-based interventions to help minimise or prevent PE truancy among in-school adolescents in Benin based on the predisposing factors while emphasising the protective influences. © 2024 by the authors.
Evaluating the moderating role of information seeking platforms on university students' risk perception and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana
By John ELvis Hagan Jr.
Introduction: The emergence of COVID-19 resulted in heightened usage of online information seeking platforms among students aimed at obtaining information about the virus. This situation further increased the levels of risk perception and anxiety levels as students managed to stay safe. This study examined the roles of information seeking platforms; specifically, social media platforms and professional platforms as moderators of the link between risk perception and anxiety among university students in Ghana. Methods: Participants were recruited from two universities in Ghana; namely, University of Education, Winneba (UEW) and University of Cape Coast (UCC) through a survey approach. The study conveniently sampled 778 participants who completed a set of questionnaires. Results: The study results revealed that COVID-19 risk perception was positively related to anxiety. Further, the use of specific online information platforms significantly moderated the link between risk perception and anxiety. Specifically, social media platforms significantly moderated the relationship between COVID-19 risk perception and anxiety level. Primarily, students who utilized social media as a COVID-19 information source reported high anxiety levels in the presence of high-risk perception compared to those who did not use social media. Additionally, professional platform usage acted as a buffer in the positive link between COVID-19 risk perception and anxiety levels. In the presence of high risk perception, students who used professional platforms, compared to those who did not use professional platforms, showed significantly low anxiety levels. Conclusions: The findings suggest the key role social media and professional platforms played in shaping students' perceptions of COVID-19. These outcomes call for the swift scrutiny of health-related information obtained from social media platforms. Both users and disseminators of health-related information on social media platforms have the responsibility of verifying the credibility of whichever information they post and/or access. Risk perception should also be an integral part of effective risk communication planning in educational institutions during outbreak of diseases. Copyright © 2023 Hagan, Quansah, Ankomah, Agormedah, Srem-Sai and Schack.
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