Emotional Strengths and Difficulties in Italian Adolescents: Analysis of Adaptation through the SDQ

Catalda Corvasce, Juan Pedro Martínez-Ramón, Inmaculada Méndez, Cecilia Ruiz-Esteban, Francisco Manuel Morales-Rodríguez and María Belén García-Manrubia
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Catalda Corvasce: Liceo Statale “Carlo Cafiero”, 76121 Barletta, Italy
Juan Pedro Martínez-Ramón: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Murcia, Campus of Espinardo/Campus Mare Nostrum, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Inmaculada Méndez: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Murcia, Campus of Espinardo/Campus Mare Nostrum, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Cecilia Ruiz-Esteban: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Murcia, Campus of Espinardo/Campus Mare Nostrum, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Francisco Manuel Morales-Rodríguez: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Granada, Campus of Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain
María Belén García-Manrubia: Department of Didactics of Mathematical and Social Science, University of Murcia, Campus of Espinardo/Campus Mare Nostrum, 30100 Murcia, Spain

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: An adolescent’s knowledge of him/herself (positive aspects and weaknesses) is shaped by interactions with external and internal factors, including the family context and the educational environment. The assessment of this knowledge serves to construct the concept of self-esteem. The main objective of the present study was to examine the prevalence of self-reported emotional and behavioral symptoms in a representative sample of Italian adolescents and their relationship with gender and age, using Goodman’s Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). A total of 440 adolescents (49.8% female) aged 15–18 years from the southern Italy region participated. The results show the prevalence of emotional and behavioral symptoms in the analyzed sample. Gender differences were also found in the variables under study. In conclusion, the SDQ test is offered as an agile, simplified, and effective tool, to be proposed to all formative agents who are concerned with the interest and care not only of young people, but also of the future of socio-political realities.

Keywords: adaptation; adolescence; age; coping; educational psychology; emotions; gender; strengths; stress; weaknesses (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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