Cross-cultural Assessment of Adolescent Depression and Anxiety

This study evaluates whether locally developed mental health tools can complement Western instruments in assessing adolescent depression and anxiety in Kenya. Analyzing data from 2,906 adolescents across 40 schools, we compared the Ndetei-Othieno-Kathuku (NOK) Scale with standard PHQ-8 and GAD-7 measures. Results show the NOK identified higher prevalence rates and captured culturally specific expressions of distress, supporting a "both-and" approach that combines local and Western instruments for more comprehensive, culturally responsive assessment. Data and code are openly shared to advance cross-cultural mental health research.