Predictors of Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Mental Health Symptoms: A School-Based Study in Southern India

Varalakshmi Chandra Sekaran, Vidya Prabhu (), Lena Ashok, Brayal D’Souza, Surekha Devadasa Shetty and Ravichandran Nair
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Varalakshmi Chandra Sekaran: Department of Health Policy, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
Vidya Prabhu: Department of Health Policy, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
Lena Ashok: Department of Social and Health Innovation, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
Brayal D’Souza: Department of Social and Health Innovation, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
Surekha Devadasa Shetty: Division of Anatomy, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
Ravichandran Nair: Department of Social and Health Innovation, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 4, 1-10

Abstract: Introduction: Mental illnesses are one of the major contributors to the overall burden of disease among the young. We investigated the predictors of emotional and behavioral problems among in-school adolescents in the Indian context. Methods: Using stratified sampling, 1441 adolescents were recruited to participate in the study in Udupi taluk. The study instruments included a socio-demographic pro forma and the adolescent self-reporting version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to assess the emotional and behavioral problems among them. We explored the predictors of total difficulties, as well as externalizing and internalizing problems and gender differences. SPSS version 25 was used to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics, a Chi-square test for associations, an independent t -test to explore the gender differences, correlation analysis, and backward stepwise logistic regression for the predictors were used. Results: The mean age of the participants was 15.31 ± 0.76. An almost equal percentage of male (49.6%) and female (50.4%) participants provided data. Abnormal scores were highest under conduct problems (8.5%), and the total difficulties reached 5.1%. The male participants had higher levels of conduct, hyperactivity, peer relationship, and externalizing problems the while the female participants experienced higher levels of emotional and internalizing problems. It was observed that there was a significant positive relationship between age and emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and total SDQ score. An older age predicted an abnormal total difficulties score and externalizing and internalizing behaviors, while the type of school predicted the total difficulties and internalizing behaviors. Conclusion: The age of the adolescent, their gender, and the type of school they attended emerged as predictors of the emotional and behavioral problems among them.

Keywords: adolescent behaviors; mental health; internalizing behaviors; externalizing behaviors; predictor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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