Emotional and Behavioral Problems among Adolescents in Pokhara City in Nepal

Abstract

Background: Adolescents are highly vulnerable to psychiatric disorders, which often have serious negative consequences for their academic achievement and potential social life. The aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among adolescents.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted to identify the emotional and behavioral problems among adolescents using cluster sampling technique. Assessment was done on students of grade 7-11 from two schools in city in Nepal using self-administered questionnaire, Youth Self-Report (YSR-11/18) 2001, developed by Achenbach System of Empirical Based Assessment and self developed socio-demographic questionnaires. Data was coded and analyzed using SPSS (20). Descriptive statistic and inferential statistic (Chi square, Fisher Exact and Odds ratio-OR) were used to analyze data.Results: Altogether 330 adolescents were enrolled in study with mean age 14.3 yrs (range 11-18, male-152, female-178). Prevalence of EBPs was 30.0% (Male-38.8% female-22.5%). Internalizing problems (35.8%) were more common than externalizing (18.5%). Occurrence of EBPs was significantly associated with Sex (OR= 2.2 p=0.001), type of family (OR=1.8 p=0.035) and types of school (private: public OR=2.1 p=0.004).Among narrow band scales most common problems were social (17.6%), thought (15.5%), somatic (13%), anxious depression (12.1%) and aggression(10.3%). There was significant association between sex with EBPs on narrow band scales, male adolescents were more likely to have thought-problem (OR=3.7 p=<0.001, rule-breaking problem (OR=8.5, p=0.02), aggressive behavior (OR=3.7 p=0.001) while female were more likely to have social problems (OR=2.6 p=0.002).Conclusions: Emotional and behavioural are a serious mental health concern among adolescents. An intervention strategy (School-based mental health service) maybe required to understand their problems and provide appropriate counseling.Keywords: Adolescents; emotional and behavioral problems; youth self report.

Statistical analysis of childhood and early adolescent externalizing behaviors in a middle low income country

“…Most studies link externalizing behavior to gender [128]. Hitherto, boys lead girls in any given methodology such as self, teacher scores and parental scores [121]. The present study has extended gender differentials in externalizing behavior disorders to different age groups, school type, and school level.…”

“…Furthermore, the association confers different behavioral patterns in privately owned and publicly funded primary and secondary schools. Although, it has been shown by [121] that students in secondary schools have twice more odds to exhibit externalizing behavior than their colleagues in private schools, this present study considered both primary and secondary schools. The outcome is highly expected because of the income disparity in Nigeria.…”

Problemas emocionais e comportamentais em adolescentes

“…Em uma pesquisa comparativa com adolescentes do Nepal, por meio do YSR, verificou-se que PI (35,8%) também foram mais comuns que PE (18,5%) m uma amostra de 330 adolescentes (Sharma et al, 2019), com resultados semelhantes ao aqui encontrados.…”

Psychiatric Disorders in Adolescents Attending Psychiatry Outpatient Department in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

“…18 Other studies in Nepal state that 12.9-30% of adolescents had psychosocial problems. 5,19,20 In our findings anxiety disorders were found to be the commonest, this is similar to the meta-analysis done by Polanczyk,et al 6.5%, 21 on the worldwide prevalence of mental disorders in children and adolescents, similar findings were recorded by Pillai, et al 1%, 10 Roberts 6.9%, 22 Mishra 15%, 23 Kessler, et al 24 In a study done in Dang district, (46.5%) of the secondary school adolescents had anxiety. 25 Our study showed mood disorder to be the second most common disorder.…”

“…The majority of patients diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder were in the age group years 17-19 yrs 109 (60.28%) with a male preponderance 56 (51.77%). Male to female ratio 1.07:1 and the majority of them were single 165 (95.04%).…”