Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Kanti Children's Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
PLoS One. 2023 Jun 23;18(6):e0287305. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287305. eCollection 2023.
Studies on self-reported emotional and behavioral problems (EBPs) among adolescents are still sparse in many low- and middle-income countries. In Nepal, no such studies have been performed on a larger scale, and little is known about self-reported EBPs in the adolescent population.
This cross-sectional, school-based study on EBPs included 1904 adolescents aged 11-18 years, enrolled in government and private schools located in 16 districts in Nepal. The Nepali version of the Youth Self Report form was used to assess self-reported EBPs, and the Teacher Report Form was used to assess academic performance. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for gender comparisons on adolescents' EBPs and on academic competence. Multiple regression analysis was done to explore correlates of self-reported EBPs.
The overall prevalence of self-reported EBPs was 14.2%; 15.6% in boys and 12.9% in girls. The mean Total Problems score was 39.27 (standard deviation = 24.16); no gender differences were observed. Boys scored higher on Externalizing Problems and girls scored higher on Internalizing Problems. The effect sizes for gender comparisons were small with Hedges' g ranging from -0.29 to 0.28. Physical illness and negative/traumatic life events were positively correlated with self-reported EBPs, whereas academic performance was negatively correlated. However, the effect sizes were small (η2 < 0.02).
This study helps to narrow the knowledge gap on the prevalence, magnitude, and types of self-reported EBPs in Nepali adolescents. It demonstrated an association between self-reported EBPs and academic performance and linked self-reported EBPs to other factors such as negative/traumatic life events and physical illness. The findings might assist health authorities in the planning of mental health services and may also provide valuable background information to clinicians dealing with adolescent mental health problems.
在许多低收入和中等收入国家，针对青少年自我报告的情绪和行为问题（EBP）的研究仍然很少。在尼泊尔，还没有在更大范围内进行过此类研究，对于青少年群体中的自我报告 EBP 知之甚少。
本研究采用横断面、基于学校的方法，对 1904 名年龄在 11-18 岁的青少年进行了研究，这些青少年来自尼泊尔 16 个地区的政府和私立学校。采用尼泊尔语版青少年自我报告量表评估自我报告的 EBP，采用教师报告表评估学业成绩。采用方差分析（ANOVA）比较青少年 EBP 和学业能力的性别差异。采用多元回归分析探讨自我报告 EBP 的相关因素。
自我报告 EBP 的总患病率为 14.2%；男孩为 15.6%，女孩为 12.9%。总问题得分的平均值为 39.27（标准差=24.16）；未观察到性别差异。男孩在外化问题上的得分较高，女孩在内化问题上的得分较高。性别比较的效应量较小，Hedges'g 范围为-0.29 至 0.28。身体疾病和消极/创伤性生活事件与自我报告 EBP 呈正相关，而学业成绩与自我报告 EBP 呈负相关。然而，效应量较小（η2<0.02）。
本研究有助于缩小我们对尼泊尔青少年自我报告 EBP 的流行程度、严重程度和类型的认识差距。研究表明，自我报告 EBP 与学业成绩之间存在关联，并将自我报告 EBP 与其他因素（如消极/创伤性生活事件和身体疾病）联系起来。研究结果可能有助于卫生当局规划心理健康服务，也可能为处理青少年心理健康问题的临床医生提供有价值的背景信息。
