Table 1 Description of the study variables

Outcome variable

 Psychosocial distress

Assessed using three mental health measures

0–5 (Coded as 1 = 2–5 and 0 = < 2)

 Loneliness

During the past 12 months, how often have you felt lonely?

1 = never, 2 = rarely, 3 = sometimes, 4 = most of the time to 5 = always (coded as 1–3 = 0 and 4- 5 = 1)

 Anxiety

During the past 12 months, how often have you been so worried about something that you could not sleep at night?

1 = never to 5 = always (coded 1–3 = 0 and 4 – 5 = 1)

 Suicide plan

During the past 12 months, did you make a plan about how you would attempt suicide?

1 = Yes 2 = No Coded (1 = Yes and 0 = No)

 Suicidal attempt

1 = Yes 2 = No Coded (1 = Yes and 0 = No)

Suicidal ideation

 Explanatory variables

 Age

Custom age

1 = 12, 2 = 13, 3 = 14, 4 = 15, 5 = 16, 6 = 17, 7 = 18 years (coded as 0 = 12–14, 15 +=1)

 Sex

Sex

1 = male, 2 = female

 Grade

In what grade are you?

1 = 8th

2 = 9th

3 = 10th

4 = 11th

5 = 12th

 Hunger (proxy of socioeconomic status)

Went hungry past 30 days

1 = never, 2 = rarely, 3 = sometimes, 4 = most of the times, 5 = always (coded 1–3 = 0, 4–5 = 1)

 Alcohol use

During the past 30 days, on how many days did you have at least one drink containing alcohol?

1  =  0 days; to 7  =  All 30 days (coded as 1  =  0; and 2–7  =  1)

 Smoking

During the past 30 days, how many days did you smoke cigarette?

1  =  0 days; to 7  =  All 30 days (coded as 1  =  0; and 2–7  =  1)

 Fight

During the past 12 months, how many times were you in a physical fight?

1  =  0 times; to 8  =  12 or more times (coded 1  =  0; and 2–8  =  1)

 Bullied

During the past 30 days, how were you bullied most often?

1  =  0 times; to 8  =  12 or more times (coded 1  =  0; and 2–7  =  1)

 Close friends

How many close friends do you have?

1 = 0 to 4 = 3 or more (coded as 1 = 0, 1–2 = 1, 3 or more = 2)

 Truancy

During the past 30 days, on how many days did you miss classes or school without permission?

1 = 0 days,2 = 1or 2 days, 3 = 3 to 5 days, 4 = 6 to 9 days, 5 = 10 or more (coded 1 = 0 and 2–5 = 1)

 Attacked

During the past 12 months, how many times were you physically attacked?

1 = 0 days,2 = 1or 2 days, 3 = 3 to 5 days, 4 = 6 to 9 days, 5 = 10 or more (coded 1 = 0 and 2–5 = 1)

 Physical Activity

During the past 7 days, on how many days were you physically active for a total of at least 60 min per day?

1 = 0 days to 8 = all 7 days (coded 1 = 5 or more days and 0–4 days = 0)

 Helpful (Peer support)

During the past 30 days, how often were most of the students in your school kind and helpful?

1 = never, 2 = rarely, 3 = sometimes, 4 = most of the times, 5 = always (coded 1–3  =  0; and 4–5  =  1)

 Parents check homework (parental supervision)

During the past 30 days, how often did your parents or guardians check to see if your homework was done?

1 = never, 2 = rarely, 3 = sometimes, 4 = most of the times, 5 = always (coded 1–3  =  0; and 4–5  =  1)

Parents understand problems and worries (Parental Connectedness)

During the past 30 days, how often did your parents or guardians understand your problems and worries?

1 = never, 2 = rarely, 3 = sometimes, 4 = most of the times, 5 = always (coded 1–3  =  0; and 4–5  =  1)

 Parents know what adolescent do free time (Parental or guardian Bonding)

During the past 30 days, how often did your parents or guardians really know what you were doing with your free time?

1 = never, 2 = rarely, 3 = sometimes, 4 = most of the times, 5 = always (coded 1–3  =  0; and 4–5  =  1)