BEHAVIOURAL AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS IN SCHOOL GOING ADOLESCENTS 1

BEHAVIOURAL AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS IN SCHOOL GOING ADOLESCENTS 1Rambha Pathak, corresponding author 2 Ravi C Sharma, 3 U C Parvan, 4 B P Gupta, 5 Rishi K Ojha, 6 and NK Goel   Published online 2011 Jan 31

 

Method   A school based cross-sectional study was conducted between January and July 2008. A stratified random sampling was done. 1150 adolescents in 12 to 18 year age group in grades 7 to 12 in 10 co-educational schools (government run and private) were the subjects of the study. Behavioural and emotional problems were assessed using Youth Self-Report (2001) questionnaire. Family stressors were assessed using a pre-tested 23 item questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was also done.

 

Results Prevalence of behavioural and emotional problems in adolescents was found to be 30%, with girls exceeding boys in all age groups. Internalizing syndrome was the most common (28.6%) psychiatric problem. On stepwise regression analysis, a perceived lack of emotional proximity to mother had the highest odds (3.489) followed by addiction in father (2.642) and marital discord in parents (1.402). Type of school, type of family, socioeconomic status, relationship with father, mother&s employment and educational status were not found to be significantly associated

 

On analysis of pattern of emotional and behavioural problems in adolescents, it was found that internalizing syndrome (28.6%) was the most common problem amongst them followed by the neither internalizing nor externalizing (19.5%) group. In internalizing group, most (22.08%) of the students were noted to be anxious/ depressed. Social problem was observed to be the most frequent (9.3%) among neither internalizing nor externalizing group. Aggressive behaviour was the commonest (11.8%) among externalizing group. (Table II) Internalizing problems mainly anxiety and depression were commoner in females than males. 24.8% females were anxious / depressed compared to 19.7% males. More boys (18.4%) than girls (12%) were found to suffer from externalizing disorders. 13.3% males had aggressive behavioural problem as compared to 9.7 % females.

 

Conclusion An alarming number of our adolescents suffer from emotional and behavioural problems which have their roots in the family environment. These data suggest urgency in establishing a school based mental health service.

 

Reference link :- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3448127/

An internalizing disorder is one type of emotional and behavioral disorder, along with externalizing disorders, and low incidence disorders. One who suffers from aninternalizing disorder will keep their problems to themselves, or internalize the problems.