Adolescent Problem Behaviors Research Articles

Externalizing Problem Behaviors Among Chinese Early Adolescents in Poverty: Profiles and Longitudinal Change.

Children's externalizing problem behavior is one of the most explored topics among parents, educators, and research scholars. The purpose of this study is to examine the developmental changes of externalizing problem behavior in the early years of poor children and adolescents and the influence of family factors such as family functioning and parental marital quality on the developmental changes. Seven hundred and seventy-eight early adolescents (Mage = 13.7, SD = 2.53) from poor families were studied longitudinally for 14 months. The results showed that three potential characteristics of externalizing problem behavior patterns were identified through Latent Profile Analysis (LPA): well-adjusted group, attention disorder group, and conduct problem group. Latent Transition Analysis (LTA) revealed a tendency for the conduct problem group to transition to the well-adjusted group over two traces (OR = 0.40). There were gender differences in the results: boys in the conduct problem group were more likely to transition to the well-adjusted group (OR = 0.55), while girls in the attention disorder group were more likely to transition to the well-adjusted group (OR = 2.63). Research has found that a supportive family environment is a positive factor in mitigating externalizing problem behaviors of the early adolescents in their transition to adolescence.

The Consequences of Peer Victimization for Suspension: Specifying a Pathway Through School Problem Behaviors in Early Adolescence

ABSTRACT Peer victimization and school suspension significantly impact youth development and life attainment. This study investigates how peer victimization increases the risk of school suspension among early adolescents, examining the mediating role of school problem behaviors. Using longitudinal data on 970 youth, we analyze whether victimization in 6th grade leads to increased problem behaviors in 7th grade, subsequently increasing the likelihood of suspension in 8th grade. Our findings reveal an indirect effect of peer victimization on suspension through school problem behaviors, suggesting that victimization can initiate a longitudinal chain of behavioral and disciplinary consequences. The results highlight the need for early intervention strategies addressing both victimization and its behavioral consequences, underscoring the importance of implementing trauma-informed practices and reconsidering punitive disciplinary policies for victimized youth.

Mechanisms by which childhood adversity influences problem behavior in deaf adolescents

Deaf youth with problem behaviors often say they have experienced childhood adversity. In order to explore the mechanisms by which childhood adversity affects problem behavior, this study administered a questionnaire to 700 deaf youth, comprising the Childhood Environment Scale, Life History Strategies Scale, Intertemporal Choice Questionnaire, and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The findings revealed a strong and positive correlation between childhood adversity and behavioral issues. In addition, life history strategy and intertemporal choice acted as chain mediators of the link between childhood adversity and problem behavior. Thus, life history strategy and intertemporal choice interventions could offer effective approaches to addressing behavioral issues in deaf adolescents.

Physical activity levels and externalizing problem behaviors in Chinese adolescents using latent profile analysis

The study aims to explore the relationship between physical activity (PA) levels and externalizing problem behaviors among Chinese adolescents, to inform personalized intervention strategies based on scientific evidence. This cross-sectional study was conducted from November 10 to December 15, 2024, among middle and high school students in Sichuan, Guangdong, Shandong, Henan, and Jiangxi provinces in China. A total of 1,718 valid questionnaires were collected (mean age = 14.32 years, SD = 1.45). The sample included 761 middle school students and 957 high school students, PA levels were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ), and externalizing problem behaviors were measured using the Youth Self-Report (YSR) scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to classify PA levels and externalizing problem behaviors, and multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between demographic variables and externalizing problem behaviors. The study indicated that: (1) Adolescents in suburban areas exhibited the highest scores in externalizing problem behaviors and PA levels (p < 0.05), and externalizing problem behaviors significantly increased with age (p < 0.001); (2) Externalizing problem behaviors were categorized into three latent classes: low-problem group (75.1%), moderate-problem group (13.1%), and high-problem group (11.8%); (3) The high-problem group scored the highest across all indicators, especially in aggressive behaviors, whereas the low-problem group had the lowest levels of externalizing behaviors; (4) Multivariate logistic regression revealed that higher PA levels significantly reduced the likelihood of moderate-problem (OR = 0.71, p < 0.001) and high-problem behaviors (OR = 0.44, p < 0.001). Higher levels of physical activity are associated with reduced externalizing problem behaviors in adolescents. Based on these findings, it is recommended to incorporate regular physical activity into behavioral intervention programs and develop personalized support strategies tailored to adolescents’ specific characteristics.

Intraindividual Variability in Adolescent Impulsivity: The Predictive Role of Family and Peer Relationships.

Adolescent impulsivity is a robust risk factor for adolescent problem behaviors. Historically, impulsivity has been conceptualized as a trait characteristic; however, recent work conducted with adult samples indicates impulsivity also exhibits state-like qualities, fluctuating within persons from day to day. If this is also true for adolescents, it suggests that there are days of higher and lower risk for problem outcomes. This study was designed to (a) demonstrate that impulsivity exhibits meaningful within-person variability in adolescents as it does with adults, and (b) to evaluate family and peer relationship dynamics that may explain daily within-person changes in impulsivity. This study collected baseline surveys and 21 consecutive daily surveys from a sample of 135 parents and adolescents (54.8% female). Parents and adolescents reported on daily family cohesion and conflict and parent-adolescent closeness and conflict; adolescents reported on daily peer relationship satisfaction and rejection, and impulsivity. Multilevel models indicated that on days of elevated family conflict, parent-adolescent conflict, and peer rejection, adolescents experienced higher than usual impulsivity, especially in analyses of adolescent-reported data. In parent-report data, days of elevated parent-adolescent conflict (in the context of low parent-adolescent connectedness) also was associated with elevated adolescent impulsivity. These findings underscore the dynamic quality of adolescent impulsivity and indicate that interpersonal conflict may be a key day-level risk factor for elevated impulsivity.

The role of social safety schemas in the persistence of mental health difficulties during adolescence.

Emotional and behavioural problems (i.e., mental health difficulties and their decomposition into internalizing and externalizing symptoms) often emerge in adolescence and can persist into adulthood if not addressed. Identifying modifiable social-cognitive processes that influence the persistence of psychopathology across the lifespan is thus essential. Using data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a nationally representative birth cohort of UK youths born in 2000-2002, we examined whether social safety at age 14 mediated the association between mental health difficulties at age 11 and mental health difficulties at age 17. The sample included 10,782 participants (50% female, 20% non-White, 21% in poverty). Mental health difficulties (total symptoms) at age 11 predicted both mental health difficulties at age 17 (b = .41, p < .001) and negative social safety schemas at age 14 (b = .02, p < .001). Negative social safety schemas in mid-adolescence partially mediated the persistence of difficulties from early to late adolescence (ab = .01, p < .001). In sex-stratified analyses, we found that negative social safety mediated the persistence of internalizing problems only for females and the persistence of externalizing problems only for males. These findings highlight the important role of social safety schemas in the persistence of adolescent emotional and behavioural problems over time. Based on these results, investments in improving early adolescent mental health by bolstering social safety perceptions may be effective for reducing mental health risks.

The impact of parental psychological control on externalizing problem behaviors in adolescents: the sequential mediating role of basic psychological need fulfillment and sense of defeat.

Adolescent externalizing problem behaviors (EPBs) represent a significant public health issue, signaling potential future destructive behaviors, violence, drug abuse, and criminal activity among youth. The adolescent period is notably susceptible to these behaviors. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze the multiple factors influencing EPBs and their interactive mechanisms to enable timely interventions and effective prevention strategies. This study is based on Self-Determination Theory and Defeat-Aggression Theory, hypothesizing that the fulfillment of basic psychological needs (BPNs) and the sense of defeat sequentially mediate the relationship between parental psychological control (PPC) and EPBs. Employing a class-cluster sampling method, this study selected 742 adolescents from a city in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region as participants. Data processing and analysis were conducted using SPSS 27.0. The analytical procedure commenced with descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations, followed by Pearson correlation analysis and sequential mediation analysis. This study examines the relationship between PPC and EPBs and tests the sequential mediating roles of BPN fulfillment and sense of defeat. After controlling for demographic variables, the findings are as follows: (1) PPC directly predicts EPBs; (2) PPC indirectly predicts EPBs through BPN fulfillment; (3) PPC indirectly influences EPBs by affecting the sense of defeat; (4) The sequential mediating roles of BPN fulfillment and sense of defeat also contribute to predicting EPBs from PPC, providing new insights for the prevention and intervention of these behaviors. The results of this study demonstrate that adolescents' EPBs are significantly associated with PPC, the fulfillment of BPNs, and a sense of defeat. To mitigate the level of EPBs among adolescents, it is crucial for parents to exercise caution in applying psychological control. Parents should create an environment that promotes autonomy, offers robust support and encouragement, and closely monitors the fulfillment of adolescents' BPNs and their emotional well-being.

Retrospective Childhood Emotional Maltreatment and Adolescent Problem Behaviors Trajectories: The Mediating Roles of Neuroticism and Self-Compassion

Retrospective Childhood Emotional Maltreatment and Adolescent Problem Behaviors Trajectories: The Mediating Roles of Neuroticism and Self-Compassion

Peran Kontrol Diri dan Keterhubungan dengan Sekolah terhadap Masalah Emosi dan Perilaku Remaja Usia SMP

Emotional and behavioral problems are likely to emerge in early adolescents as they are considered emotionally immature and highly susceptible to changes in their social environment. This study aims to examine the role of self-control and school connectedness in adolescent emotional and behavioral problems. The research hypothesis is that self-control and connectedness to school together play a role in adolescents' emotional and behavioral problems. Research uses a quantitative method with a purposive sampling technique, involving 171 respondents aged 12-14 years who are at the junior high school level. Measurements were carried out using three scales: The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) with a Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.760, the self-control scale with a Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.739, and the Student Connectedness Questionnaire (SCQ) with a Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.891. The data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis with a significance level of 0.05. The results showed that self-control and school connectedness contribute to emotional and behavioral problems with an effective contribution of 23.8%, while 76.2% are other factors that were not studied.

A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge regarding Management of selected Adolescent Behavioral problems and its Prevention among B.Ed. students of a selected B.Ed. College, Hassan

Abstract: Mental health means the ability to balance feelings, distress, ambitions for idea in once daily life and the ability to face and accept realities of life.1 Importance of good habit lays the fact that if we practice habit, it will take form of your character Bad habits are a patterned behavior regarded as detrimental to on physical and mental health. The decade of adolescence conceptualize as the ages of 10 to 19 years normal behavior in adolescence depends on age, personality and physical and emotional development. Adolescents are at risk for the development of problem behaviors that are distressing and socially disruptive. Some problem behaviors, such as having multiple sex partners, can result in problems for the individual and others.4 Methods: Evaluative research approach was used for this study and it aims to assess the knowledge regarding Behavioral Problems for B.Ed. students. Structured knowledge questionnaire was used. Non probability convenient sampling technique was used to select the sample. Result: The reliability of the tool is computed using split half Karl Pearson’s correlation formula (Raw score method). The reliability co-efficient of half test of knowledge questionnaire (r1/2) is found to be 0.96. The mean percentage of post-test knowledge score (85%) was higher than the mean percentage of pre-test knowledge score (40.1%). The calculated 't 'value (28.92%) is greater than the table value (0.05, 49df). It showed a significant difference between mean pre and post-test knowledge scores. Calculated 2 values are showed significant association between age, family income/month. CONCLUSION: A pre-experimental one group pretest posttest design was used in the study. The data was collected from 50 samples through purposive sampling technique. This study is concluded that, the knowledge of the adolescent was not adequate before the introduction of STP. After the introduction of the STP, the posttest findings showed the significant increase in the knowledge of B.Ed. students on selected Behavioural problems. STP is proved to be one of the effective teaching strategies.

Association between parental stress and adolescent behavior mediated by parenting style in public junior and senior high school students in North Jakarta

Background Parental/ primary caregivers’ stress levels and parenting styles can impact parental behavior towards adolescent children, leading to potential shifts in the children's behavior. Parenting styles are classified into three types: authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive. Authoritarian parenting enforces strict rules with one-way communication, limiting children's creativity and independence. Authoritative parenting fosters two-way communication, balancing clear expectations with reasoning. Permissive parenting emphasizes open communication with minimal discipline, granting children greater decision-making freedom. Objective To explore the association between parental stress, parenting style, and adolescent behavioral problems. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 981 adolescents and their primary caregivers. Parental stress, parenting style, and adolescents’ behavior were assessed through questionnaires. The distribution of respondents’ characteristics was obtained by univariate analysis. Bivariate analysis was performed using direct effect of path analysis to look for associations between the two categorical variables. Multivariate analysis used path analysis to determine all variables’ direct and indirect relationships. Results Of 981 adolescent respondents, 665 behaved normally (67.85%) and 552 (56.3%) received authoritative parenting. Of 981 primary caregivers, 690 had moderate stress levels (70.3%). The study found a significant correlation between parental stress levels and various aspects of child behavior (P&lt;0,05), including emotional symptoms, behavioral issues, hyperactivity, peer relationship difficulties, and prosocial behavior. Parental stress levels were negatively associated with authoritative parenting (P&lt;0.05). Authoritarian parenting was associated with peer problems and behavioral problems (p&lt;0.05) in adolescents. In the gender segmentation test, authoritarian parenting had a positive relationship with behavior problems in boys (P&lt;0.05) and peer problems in girls (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion Most adolescents had normal behavior and received authoritative parenting. Parental stress had a positive association with adolescents’ behavior. Children who experienced authoritarian parenting tended to have peer and behavioral problems. Boys who experienced high authoritarian parenting are at higher risk of abnormal behavioral problems. Girls who experienced authoritarian parenting are at higher risk of peer problems. Parenting style was not a mediator between parental stress and adolescent behavior.

Relationship Between Family Functioning and Problem Behaviors of Left-behind Adolescents in China

Relationship Between Family Functioning and Problem Behaviors of Left-behind Adolescents in China

Pathways from parental alienation to adolescent problem behaviors: A longitudinal study of parent-child attachment and emotion regulation

Pathways from parental alienation to adolescent problem behaviors: A longitudinal study of parent-child attachment and emotion regulation

Research on the Strategy of Social Work Intervention in Community Correction for Adolescents

Juvenile delinquency is a hot issue of social concern. Social work intervention in juvenile community correction has professional advantages, but there are problems such as low service quality, insufficient social worker capabilities, and lack of social resources. It is necessary to implement "correction" according to individual needs, strengthen the construction of social work talent teams for correction, establish a community for juvenile community correction, improve the intervention of social work in adolescent deviant behavior, enhance the ef-ficiency of social workers in solving adolescent deviant behavior problems, and promote the recovery of adolescent self and social functions.

Entwicklung des Cannabiskonsums vom Jugend- zum jungen Erwachsenenalter sowie Risiko- und Schutzfaktoren für einen problematischen Konsum – Ergebnisse einer Längsschnittstudie

ZusammenfassungEinleitungMit dem neuen Cannabisgesetz wurde am 01.04.2024 der Konsum von Cannabis legalisiert. Bereits zuvor war Cannabis eine der am häufigsten konsumierten Drogen. Ein problematischer Konsum birgt jedoch vielfältige gesundheitliche Risiken, besonders für Jugendliche und junge Erwachsene. Die aktuelle Studie untersucht die Entwicklung des Cannabiskonsums vom Jugend- zum jungen Erwachsenenalter sowie Risiko- und Schutzfaktoren für einen problematischen Konsum bei jungen Erwachsenen.MethodenDie Daten stammen aus der deutschen Längsschnittstudie „Zukunft Familie“ (Start: 2001, 18-Jahres-Follow-up: 2020–2022). Die Stichprobe umfasst N = 278 junge Erwachsene (M = 22,3 Jahre). Betrachtet werden Prävalenzraten und die Entwicklung des Cannabiskonsums vom Jugend- zum jungen Erwachsenenalter. Als mögliche Risiko- und Schutzfaktoren für einen problematischen Konsum werden verschiedene kind- und familienbezogene Variablen des Kindergarten- und Jugendalters untersucht.ErgebnisseDie Lebenszeitprävalenz für Cannabiskonsum betrug 57,6 %, die Prävalenz für problematischen Konsum 13,7 %. Junge Männer hatten ein 3,3-fach höheres Risiko für einen problematischen Konsum als junge Frauen und junge Erwachsene, die bei der Befragung im Jugendalter bereits Cannabis konsumiert hatten, ein 2,6-fach höheres Risiko. Als Risikofaktor für einen problematischen Konsum erwies sich primär das Ausmaß externalisierender Verhaltensauffälligkeiten im Jugendalter aus Muttersicht.DiskussionDie Ergebnisse bestätigen, dass Cannabiskonsum sowie ein problematischer Konsum bei jungen Erwachsenen bereits vor der Legalisierung kein seltenes Phänomen waren. Sie unterstreichen die Notwendigkeit für verhältnis- und verhaltenspräventive Maßnahmen und bieten zahlreiche Ansatzpunkte für die zukünftige Forschung.

Suicidal behavior and other mental health problems in adolescents.

Suicidal behavior and other mental health problems in adolescents.

Core Practices in Systemic Family Therapy for Adolescent Behavior Problems: A Comprehensive Modular Pathway

Core Practices in Systemic Family Therapy for Adolescent Behavior Problems: A Comprehensive Modular Pathway

Heterogeneous Effects of Environmental Exposure to Gun Violence on Adolescent Problem Behavior.

Mounting evidence suggests that gun violence occurring within a community can affect community members even when they do not experience it firsthand. Building on this expanded view of exposure, the present study examined the effects of environmental exposure to gun violence-that is, living or attending school within 1,300 m of a past-year firearm homicide occurrence-on adolescents' problem behaviors (delinquent, externalizing, and internalizing behaviors) using data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study merged with information on firearm homicide incidents from the Gun Violence Archive (N = 3,086; girls: N = 1,504; Black/white/Latinx/other: N = 525/1,547/773/241). Employing propensity score matching methods, we estimated the average effects of environmental gun violence exposure on adolescents' problem behaviors and assessed heterogeneity in these effects across subgroups of youth with different exposure probabilities (low, moderate, and high). While average effects were not observed, environmental gun violence exposure was associated with increased delinquent (but not externalizing) behavior among adolescents, particularly girls, with low risk of exposure and decreased internalizing behavior among adolescents with low and moderate risk of exposure. These findings highlight the importance of investigating the differential impacts of gun violence exposure across subgroups with varying pre-exposure risks. Adolescents at relatively low risk of exposure may benefit from supportive services to address behavior problems in the aftermath of gun violence; though, resources for adolescents with elevated pre-exposure risks remain vital for redressing broader inequities that contribute to gun violence in the first place.

Impact of Multi-Component Intervention On Selected Behavioural Problems Among School Going Adolescents

Introduction: Adolescence is a pivotal period of development in one’s life. There is a need of adaptation in emotional and social behaviour and adoption of healthy patterns in sleep, exercise, coping, problem solving and interpersonal skills. Behavioural disorders in younger adolescents like hyperactivity and conduct problems can affect the studies and add a risk of criminal and anti- social behaviour. These behavioural problems along with smartphone addiction in this age group may become a challenge to the society, if not addressed properly. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a multi-component intervention (MCI) on emotional-behavioural problems (EBP) like hyperactivity, conduct disorder, peer relationship problems and smartphone addiction among the adolescents of 13-16 years. Methods: A quasi- experimental design was used to find the impact of multi-component intervention (MCI) on behavioural problems of adolescents. After obtaining a voluntarily signed informed consent, and ensuring confidentiality, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ11-17) was administered to 804 school going adolescents from different schools of Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala (South India) to identify those with behavioural problems, based on the specified tool. Socio- demographic data sheet was used to collect the adolescent’s characteristics; with the second section of, Smartphone Addiction Scale – Shortened version (SAS-SV). Data in this phase was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Among the 804 adolescents, 214 who met the criteria for EBP were chosen and were assigned to control and experimental groups (108 and 106 respectively). Then MCI consisted of online psycho education, pranayama and aerobic exercise with dancing steps was given to the experimental group for 10weeks and post test was done for both the groups. Data were analysed by two way repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) with Boneferoni ‘t’ test for multiple comparisons and one-way Kruskal Wallis ANOVA on ranks with Dunn’s multiple comparison test. Results: The results showed that there was a significant impact of multi-component intervention in reducing the behavioural problems like hyper activity, conduct problems and peer problems among experimental group in comparison to the control (p&lt; 0.001). Conclusion: The study shows the positive effect of multi component intervention to manage behavioural problems, if regularly practised.

Mitigation of problem behaviors among migrant children in China: A chain mediation model

This study explored the influence of social support on problem behaviors exhibited by migrant children, and examined the potential mediating role of interpersonal security and positive psychological capital (PsyCap). Migrant children (1 = 746) and local urban children (1 = 401) completed the Social Support Scale, the Interpersonal Security Scale, the Psychological Capital Questionnaire, and the Adolescent Character and Behavioral Problem Behavior Tendency Questionnaire. We compared the groups and conducted an intervariable correlational analysis of the migrant group’s results. The findings indicated that social support, interpersonal security, and PsyCap were negative predictors of problem behaviors in migrant children. Interpersonal security andPsyCap mediated the relationship between social support and problem Beh aviors via three pathways: interpersonal security alone, PsyCap alone, and he interpersonal security‐PsyCap chain. Enhancing migrant children’s sense of interpersonal safety and building prevention-oriented positive parenting psychosocial support networks may help to reduce migrant children’s problem behaviors.