Adolescent Problem Behaviors Research Articles

Support Services Provided by a Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC) to Adolescent Witnesses of Domestic Violence

Objective: This article presents the results of a case study conducted at a Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC) in Pretoria, South Africa, on social service practitioners’ (SSP) views of the support services provided by a CYCC to adolescent witnesses of domestic violence. These support services are explored in terms of four inter-dependent levels including the micro, meso, exo and macro levels of the Ecological Theory, as described by Bronfenbrenner (1979).Method: For this study, a qualitative holistic case study design was adopted. This single case study design was chosen as information was gathered from various sources in only one CYCC. Information was triangulated by using various sources of data, that is interviews with SSPs and the children, as well as the policies of the CYCC regarding services offered for children who have witnessed domestic violence.Results: This study revealed that there are no specialised services at the identified CYCC to support adolescent witnesses of domestic violence. The services that are available seem to be generic and aimed at addressing problem behaviours in children and adolescents, rather than providing proactive, therapeutic support to deal with trauma such as witnessing physical and verbal domestic violence in their home of origin.

Validation of a Korean Version of the Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale for Children.

Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct that plays an important role in various problem behaviors in children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to validate a Korean version of the short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale for Children. Participants were 330 children (166 female) from 2 elementary schools in Korea and 94 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children (23 female) from two major hospitals. The Korean short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale for Children (UPPS-P-C) (20 items), Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 6-18 (CBCL 6-18), and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11) were administered. 107 children from the control group were retested 6 months later. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) conducted in the control group supported a 5-factor hierarchical model in which 1) positive and negative urgency factors are loaded on a higher-order factor of general urgency; 2) lack of perseveration and lack of premeditation factors are loaded on a higher-order factor of lack of conscientiousness; and 3) sensation seeking remained as a separate dimension. Reliability analysis demonstrated that the 5 factors of the Korean short UPPS-P-C had acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Lack of premeditation and lack of perseveration subscales showed significant correlations with measures of problem behaviors in CBCL and all the subscales were correlated with the BIS-11. The ADHD group showed significantly higher scores in lack of premeditation, lack of perseveration, positive urgency, and negative urgency subscales. This study indicates that the Korean version of short UPPS-P-C has adequate reliability and validity. It may be a valid tool to assess impulsivity of healthy children as well as ADHD.

Association of Magnesium, Iron, Copper, and Zinc Levels with the Prevalence of Behavior Problems in Children and Adolescents.

Magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) are indispensable elements in children's growth and development. However, epidemiological evidence regarding essential elements and their mixed exposure to behavior problems remains in its infancy. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the association between essential elements and the manifestation of behavior problems, with an additional focus on the implications of their mixture. An electronic medical records review was performed among 4122 subjects aged 6-18years who underwent examinations at Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, between January 2019 and July 2022. The concentrations of essential elements were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, and behavior problems were assessed by using the Conners' Parent Rating Scale (CPRS). A total of 895 (21.7%) children and adolescents were identified as having behavior problems. For single exposure, inversely linear dose-response relationships were identified between continuous Mg and Zn levels and the prevalence of behavior problems, and the prevalence ratios (PRs) in the categorical lowest tertile were 1.28 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.07-1.54) for Mg and 1.31 (95% CI: 1.05-1.63) for Zn compared to the highest tertile. For mixture exposure, an inverse association between essential elements and behavior problems was also found, mainly contributed by Mg (posterior inclusion probability, PIP = 0.854). Whole blood levels of Mg and Zn were significantly inversely associated with behavior problems. The findings highlight the pivotal role of essential elements in behavior problems and emphasize the importance of maintaining adequate levels of essential elements during children's maturation.

Profiles of Mental Health Problems Among Adolescents

Adolescence is one of the developmental stages marked by the emergence of psychological turmoil, so it is not easy for some individuals to live through it. This study aimed to determine the general profile of typical mental health problems experienced by adolescents in East Java. This study used a descriptive survey conducted on adolescents aged 15–18 years in East Java. The sampling technique used is simple random sampling. Data were obtained using sociodemographic data and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The results show that emotional problems emerged as the most prevalent concern among older students, whereas younger students faced the highest prevalence of peer-related problems. Regarding gender, emotional problems and peer problems were the predominant contributors to the highest rates among female students, while conduct problems exhibited the highest rates among male students. The implications of the study point to the importance of addressing gender-based emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents within school settings. This emphasis is key to cultivating a state of mental health and well-being.
 Keywords: emotional problems, behavioral problems, gender, school-based mental health

Mediating and moderating effects of authoritative parenting styles on adolescent behavioral problems.

This study aimed to analyze how authoritative parenting affects behavioral problems among primary, junior high, and secondary high school students. Today, parental educational anxiety and parent-child relationship conflicts are common in China and are resulting in a high incidence of child behavioral problems. High-quality family education is becoming increasingly important in China. This study sought to provide a reference for developing responsive family education services. A total of 10,441 parents in Hubei Province, including urban and rural areas, were evaluated using the Parents' Education Anxiety Questionnaire, Parental Authority Parenting Questionnaire, Parent-Child Relationship Scale, and Self-Made Behavior Problem Scale to determine the internal mechanisms of child behavioral problems in the family system. To make the sample more representative, this study collected data from primary and secondary schools representative of the southeast, northwest, and center of Hubei Province; further, the number of parents involved in each school was controlled at approximately 300 to ensure that the final sample had analytical value. Educational anxiety directly affected children's behavioral problems and indirectly affected them through the conflicts between parent and child. This conflict partially mediated educational anxiety and child behavioral problems, and authoritative parenting played a significant regulatory role in this relationship. Higher levels of educational anxiety among parents increased the likelihood of a depressed family environment. This can lead to deteriorating parent-child relationships, which can result in children's problem behaviors. Parents can address these problems by changing their approach to education and adjusting their emotions accordingly.

Childhood Maltreatment and Behavior Problems: Exploring the Mediating Role of Parental Attachment

Background. Childhood maltreatment occurred to be the significant risk factor for development of number of adverse mental and many behavioural problems in adolescents. Seemingly, strong parental attachment provides a positive basis to overcome the harms of childhood maltreatment. The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of parental attachment between childhood maltreatment and behaviour problems. Method. The study utilized the correlational research design and the data was collected through purposive and convenient sampling from adolescents (N = 200) with the age range of 12-18 (M = 14.70, SD = 1.74) years. Results. Significant positive association between childhood maltreatment and behaviour problems was observed. Non-significant association was found between the two subscales of parental attachment with all variables of the study except for the negative association of goal corrected partnership with childhood maltreatment and behaviour problems. Goal corrected partnership further mediated the association between childhood maltreatment and behaviour problems. The present study yielded the significance of goal corrected partnership (indicating child empathy with parents) in avoiding the adverse childhood experiences. Conclusion. The findings of the present research could be beneficial both for theory building as well as for intervention-based programs. These findings could further be utilized to spread awareness among young adolescents to modify and minimize behaviour problems.

Parent–adolescent discrepancies in positive parenting and adolescent problem behaviors in Chinese families

Based on the discrepancy–maladaptive hypothesis and general strain theory, in this study, we examined two key aspects: first, the mediating role of self-control in the relationship between parent–adolescent discrepancies in positive parenting and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems, and second, variations in problem behavior among subgroups with different parent–adolescent dyads reporting patterns. The participants were 349 intact Chinese families, with parents as the primary caregivers and teenagers aged 15–18 years who are attending secondary vocational schools. The results revealed that adolescents generally perceived lower levels of caring and behavioral control than parents. Compared to behavioral control, discrepancies in perceived levels of caring had more significant predicting levels of internalizing and externalizing problems, and the relationship between discrepancies of caring and internalizing and externalizing problems was mediated by self-control. Latent profile analysis revealed three parent–adolescent responding patterns (subgroups); compared to the other subgroups, only the subgroup characterized by adolescents perceiving lower caring and behavioral control than parents exhibited higher levels of internalizing and externalizing problems. The findings of this study provide insights on how parent–adolescent discrepancies may lead to adolescent problem behaviors and highlight the importance of self-control as a mediating mechanism.

Behavioral and Emotional Problems in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Preliminary Report.

Parent-child agreement regarding emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents with obesity was measured. One hundred Italian adolescents with obesity (36 males, 64 females, mean age ± SD: 15.3 ± 1.61 years, mean body mass index, BMI: 37.9 ± 5.48 kg/m2), hospitalized for a 3-week multidisciplinary body weight reduction program at Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piancavallo-Verbania, Italy, and one of their parents (n = 100, 40 fathers, 60 mothers) participated in the study. Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for parents and the Youth Self Report (YSR) for teens were administered. Most of the CBCL and YSR scores were normal, with more borderline and clinical scores being found in CBCL (29% of borderline scores in attention problems, 28% in affective problems, and 26% in ADHD; 32% of clinical scores in affective problems, 23% in withdrawn/depressed, and 22% in anxiety problems and somatic complains subscales) than in YSR (19% of borderline scores in affective behaviors and 17% in somatic complains; 15% of clinical scores in anxiety problems and 17% in withdrawn/depressed subscale). Young females reported greater anxiety problems (p = 0.009), oppositional defiant problems (p = 0.029), anxiety/depressed (p = 0.030), and internalizing problems (p = 0.045) than males. Pearson's coefficients ranged between 0.273 to 0.517. This study provides information on the cross-informant evaluation of psychological profiles with CBCL and YSR in a clinical sample of adolescents with obesity and their parents.

An integrated model: marital effect on adolescent behavioral problems through siblings.

Few studies have simultaneously focused on the effects of marital conflict and marital intimacy on adolescent development, and little is known about the role of sibling relationships. Thus, this study examined the association between marital relationships and adolescent behavioral problems, including depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior. At the same time, we explored the mediating role of sibling hostility and sibling affection and the moderating effect of birth order in multichild families in China. Participants included 842 adolescents (Mage = 12.60, 46.2% boys) from Henan Province. Marital relationship, sibling relationship, birth order, depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. SEM was then used to examine the role of sibling relationships and birth order in the association between marital relationship and adolescent behavioral problems. Our results showed that marital intimacy was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior, while marital conflict was positively correlated with them. Marital intimacy was associated with depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior through both sibling hostility and sibling affection. Marital conflict was indirectly associated with depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior through sibling hostility. In addition, the first-born adolescents were more sensitive to marital intimacy. Given that the occurrence of adolescent behavioral problems is more common in contemporary society, our findings suggest that establishing a more intimate and warmer family atmosphere and promoting positive interactions between siblings may help control adolescent mental health problems.

Associations between externalizing behavior problems and risky sexual behaviors in adolescence: Attachment as a mediator.

Risky sexual behaviors in adolescence are associated with negative health and psychological functioning outcomes. Although the association between behavior problems and risky sexual behaviors is well established, addressing these problems requires understanding the mechanisms that help explain this association. Adolescent attachment, while related to risky sexual behavior, has not been extensively explored as an outcome of childhood externalizing problems. The two objectives of this study were to explore the links between parental and peer attachment and risky sexual behaviors and to examine the mediating effect of attachment on the links between behavior problems and risky sexual behaviors. Five hundred and ninety-eight French-Canadian adolescents (46.2% girls), Mage at T1 = 13.23; Mage at T2 = 14.28; Mage at T3 = 17.35) participated in this longitudinal study. The quality of parental attachment at T2 was significantly and negatively associated with risky sexual behaviors 3 years later, at T3. More specifically, a lower quality parental attachment relationship was associated with having nonexclusive partners as well as with inconsistent condom use. Finally, parental attachment (T2) was a significant mediator between behavior problems (T1) and risky sexual behaviors (T3), but only for younger adolescents. Findings suggest that in addition to behavior problems in adolescence, the quality of parental attachment relationships may help in understanding risky sexual behaviors in adolescence.

COVID-19 pandemic impact on adolescent mental health: a reassessment accounting for development

Current prospective reports suggest a pandemic-related increase in adolescent mental health problems. We examine whether age-related change over 11–14 years accounts for this increase. Mothers and adolescents in a UK-based birth cohort (Wirral Child Health and Development Study; WCHADS; N = 737) reported on adolescent depression and behavioural problems pre-pandemic (December 2019–March 2020), mid-pandemic (June 2020–March 2021) and late pandemic (July 2021–March 2022). Analysis used repeated measures models for over-dispersed Poisson counts with an adolescent-specific intercept with age as a time-varying covariate. Maturational curves for girls, but not for boys, showed a significant increase in self-reported depression symptoms over ages 11–14 years. Behavioural problems decreased for both. After adjusting for age-related change, girls’ depression increased by only 13% at mid-pandemic and returned to near pre-pandemic level at late pandemic (mid versus late – 12%), whereas boys’ depression increased by 31% and remained elevated (mid versus late 1%). Age-adjusted behavioural problems increased for both (girls 40%, boys 41%) and worsened from mid- to late pandemic (girls 33%, boys 18%). Initial reports of a pandemic-related increase in depression in young adolescent girls could be explained by a natural maturational rise. In contrast, maturational decreases in boys’ depression and both boys’ and girls’ behavioural problems may mask an effect of the pandemic.

Family and school factors related to internalizing and externalizing problems in adolescence

ABSTRACT Family and school factors are among the most important determinants of internalizing and externalizing problem behavior in adolescents. The aim of this study is to explore how certain family and school factors explain internalizing and externalizing problems after one year. In addition to individual-level variables, school level variables are taken into account. This multilevel study was conducted among 507 adolescents (mean age 13.44; 52.3% girls) who reported their internalizing problems (anxiety, depressive symptoms), externalizing problems (aggressive and norm-breaking behavior), parental knowledge of their whereabouts, parental rule setting, school connectedness and teacher support. At the school level, the aggregated scores for school connectedness and teacher support were calculated. The results show that the differences between schools explained 13.4% of the variance in externalizing problem behavior although it did not account for internalizing behavior. Parental knowledge and school connectedness were significant predictors of both internalizing and externalizing problems. At the school level, aggregated teacher support predicted fewer externalizing problems. While some of the results are partially in line with previous findings, others were found to be contradictory. The implications for practice are provided.

Optimalisasi Kesehatan Mental dan Perilaku Remaja Menuju Generasi Unggul Melalui Penyuluhan Siswa-Siswi SMPN 8 Surabaya - Jawa Timur

Mental and behavioral problems in adolescents are still a serious problem in the world and in Indonesia. Mental and behavioral disorders in adolescents often go undetected and are neglected in their treatment, resulting in risks in character formation towards adulthood and affecting their quality and future, so counseling and socialization are needed. This community service activity aims to provide information about the importance of optimizing mental health and adolescent behavior for the future towards a superior generation. Community service is carried out for teenagers in the form of counseling to teenagers about the importance of optimizing mental health and behavior in order to become a superior generation and have a good future. The implementation of this activity includes lectures in the form of presentations, discussions and counseling. Pre-test and post-test were carried out before and after this activity. A total of 600 participants took part in this activity, including the Principal, Teachers and Students of State Junior High School 8 Surabaya. It was found that 309 (68.7%) teenage students felt they had problems and the participants' abilities increased in assessing the importance of optimizing mental health and adolescent behavior after counseling where there was an increase in the number of post test scores, both increasing compared to the post test. Counseling regarding optimizing mental health and adolescent behavior towards a superior generation is very effective.

The Impact of Harsh Parental Discipline and Emotional Warmth on Adolescent Problem Behaviors.

This study, grounded in Social Information Processing Theory, integrates emotional warmth and harsh discipline into a unified model to investigate their differential effects on adolescents' internalized and externalized problem behaviors, as well as to explore the potential divergences in the mediating role of inhibitory control. Four hundred and twenty-eight adolescents completed validated scales of Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran (EMBU), Inhibitory Control and The Youth Self-Report (YSR), Data analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 and Mplus7.4 to examine the relationship between harsh parental discipline, emotional warmth, adolescent inhibitory control, and internalized and externalized problem behaviors and the mediating effects. The present study revealed that (1) Harsh parental discipline negatively predicted both internalized and externalized problems in adolescents, while emotional warmth from fathers positively predicted internalized problem behaviors; (2) Inhibitory control acted as a mediator in the impact of harsh parental discipline on problem behaviors, while the mediating effect between paternal emotional warmth and internalization issues was not significant. The impact of emotional warmth and harsh discipline on adolescent internalized and externalized problems varied. In families practicing a mixed parenting style, harsh discipline had a more significant effect on adolescents, primarily mediated through inhibitory control.

Identify adolescents' help-seeking intention on suicide through self- and caregiver's assessments of psychobehavioral problems: deep clustering of the Tokyo TEEN Cohort study

Psychopathological and behavioral problems in adolescence are highly comorbid, making their developmental trajectories complex and unclear partly due to technical limitations. We aimed to classify these trajectories using deep learning and identify predictors of cluster membership. We conducted a population-based cohort study on 3171 adolescents from three Tokyo municipalities, with 2344 pairs of adolescents and caregivers participating at all four timepoints (ages 10, 12, 14, and 16) from 2012 to 2021. Adolescent psychopathological and behavioral problems were assessed by using self-report questionnaires. Both adolescents and caregivers assessed depression/anxiety and psychotic-like experiences. Caregivers assessed obsession/compulsion, dissociation, sociality problem, hyperactivity/inattention, conduct problem, somatic symptom, and withdrawal. Adolescents assessed desire for slimness, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. These trajectories were clustered with variational deep embedding with recurrence, and predictors were explored using multinomial logistic regression. Five clusters were identified: unaffected (60.5%), minimal problems; internalizing (16.2%), persistent or worsening internalizing problems; discrepant (9.9%), subjective problems overlooked by caregivers; externalizing (9.6%), persistent externalizing problems; and severe (3.9%), chronic severe problems across symptoms. Stronger autistic traits and experience of bullying victimization commonly predicted the four "affected" clusters. The discrepant cluster, showing the highest risks for self-harm and suicidal ideation, was predicted by avoiding help-seeking for depression. The severe cluster predictors included maternal smoking during pregnancy, not bullying others, caregiver's psychological distress, and adolescent's dissatisfaction with family. Approximately 40% of adolescents were classified as "affected" clusters. Proactive societal attention is warranted toward adolescents in the discrepant cluster whose suicidality is overlooked and who have difficulty seeking help. Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, and Japan Science and Technology Agency.

Neighborhood disadvantage and adolescent behavior problems: how do inferences differ across definitions of disadvantage?

Various definitions of neighborhood disadvantage (ND) exist, yet evidence is lacking on how ND operationalization may impact scientific inference. We used data from wave 6 of the Fragile Families study, excluding those without census tract or behavior problem data (n = 2363). Outcomes included five scales from the caregiver-reported Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and a self-reported delinquency scale. ND was defined in four ways: (1) a modified Sampson definition which included four neighborhood poverty variables; (2) a poverty-only definition which only included percent households below poverty; (3) an overextended definition which added a mediator between the ND-behavior relationship, and (4) an expanded definition which added six additional ND variables to the modified Sampson definition. Using effect estimates from generalized linear models, differences were calculated using percent change-in-estimate, with the modified Sampson as the referent. Effect estimates were similar for the modified Sampson and expanded definitions (< 5% difference). The poverty-only definition differed from the modified Sampson unsystematically. Estimates for the overextended definition were consistently larger compared to modified Sampson (10-37% greater). The expanded and modified Sampson definitions produced similar results. Poverty-only and overextended ND definitions should be interpreted with caution.

أهمية لغة الجسد في التعامل مع الأطفال في ضوء السنة النبوية مقاربة سيكولوجية

This academic research explores how the Prophet's Sunnah can be used to convey nonverbal communication, highlighting its significant impact on the psychological development of children -a crucial group in society. The researcher argues that key stakeholders, such as parents and educators, may not have the necessary expertise in this area, which justifies the selection of this topic. The researcher collected hadiths of the Prophet that had implicit or explicit indications of nonverbal communication as a part of the inductive method. Later, he utilized the analytical method by referring to various sources from the Prophetic Sunnah and psychological literature. Research has revealed that touching and wiping a child can create feelings of affection and comfort, as well as prevent behavioural problems in adolescence. Also, body language can be used as an effective teaching method that conveys more information than words alone.

Family-focused intervention to promote adolescent mental health and well-being in Moldova and North Macedonia (FLOURISH): feasibility study protocol

IntroductionFamily-Focused Adolescent & Lifelong Health Promotion (FLOURISH) project will adapt, implement and evaluate a programme to support adolescent mental health and well-being through strategies, such as strengthening parenting practices, adolescent-caregiver...

Association of cognitive and adaptive skills with internalizing and externalizing problems in autistic children and adolescents.

The presence of an intellectual disability (ID) alongside autism is considered to increase the risk for mental health and behavior problems in children and adolescents. Existing evidence is restricted by looking at ID as a categorical classification. The study aimed to examine the association of cognitive and adaptive behavior skills with internalizing and externalizing problems in a large sample of autistic children and adolescents, across a wide range of cognitive skills. Participants were 2759 children and adolescents aged between 4 and 18 years recruited as part of the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC), of whom 709 (approximately 25%) had ID. Multiple regression models examined associations of internalizing and externalizing problems with cognitive and adaptive skills (communication, daily living, and socialization skills). Cognitive skills were not associated with externalizing problems but were associated with more internalizing problems in autistic children without ID (Cog β: 0.126). All adaptive skill domains were inversely associated with externalizing (Communication β: -0.145; Daily-Living β: -0.132; Socialization β: -0.289) and internalizing problems (Communication β: -0.074; Daily-Living β: -0.064; Socialization β: -0.213) in those without ID. Daily living (β: -0.158) and socialization skills (β: -0.104) were inversely correlated with externalizing problems in autistic children with ID, while only socialization problems (β: -0.099) were associated with internalizing problems in this group. Socialization skills were systematically associated with internalizing and externalizing problems across all levels of cognitive functioning. Supporting social skills development may benefit all aspects of child mental health, while recognizing that children with higher cognitive skills are more vulnerable to internalizing problems might assist with earlier identification of these problems.

A Comparison of Changes in Health Behavior, Obesity, and Mental Health of Korean Adolescents Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Online Cross-Sectional Study.

The health behavior and mental health problems of adolescents have shown a variety of changes due to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study compared health behavior, obesity, and mental health among Korean adolescents before and during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Population-based and cross-sectional data from the 2019 and 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Surveys were used. Data of 57,048 and 54,948 adolescents from the 2019 and 2020 surveys, respectively, were compared. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to compare health behavior, obesity, and mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of overweight, obesity, and body image perceived subjectively as fat, were higher in the 2020 sample compared to the 2019 sample. The aOR of the frequency (more than 3 times a week) of fast-food consumption was higher in 2020 than in 2019. However, the aOR of physical activity, alcohol use, and smoking experience were lower in 2020 than in 2019. In addition, during COVID-19, adolescents were less likely to have perceived severe stress, depressive moods, and suicidal ideation. Current evidence suggests the co-occurrence of positive and negative changes in health behavior, obesity, and mental health among Korean adolescents during the early COVID-19 pandemic. The results contribute insights for monitoring adolescents' health behavior and promoting their mental health during school shutdowns.