Zubayr M O, Obimakinde A M, Popoola O A
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Ann Ib Postgrad Med. 2025 Mar 31;23(1):15-23.
Adolescent behavioural problems can be burdensome for parental figures. The lack of good parental responses and coping strategies may worsen adolescent mental health issues. Research in this domain can be informative for effective management of adolescents' behavioural problems in resourcelimited settings like Nigeria.
We assessed parental responses and coping strategies for adolescents with behavioural problems.
A cross-sectional community-based survey with cluster sampling was conducted. Coping strategies were assessed using the Brief Cope Inventory (BCI), dichotomized into Emotional-Based Strategies (EBS) and Problem- Based Strategies (PBS) coping. The Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ) assessed adolescent behavioural problems. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Four hundred and ten (410) parental figures of adolescents aged 14.8±2.3 years were recruited. Parental response to adolescent problem behaviours included corporal punishment in 44% and few (5.8%) sought medical or spiritual help for the adolescent. The most deployed parental coping strategy was 'active' coping (69%) while 'instrumental support' was the least adopted coping strategy. The age, gender, educational level and income of parental figures, were associated with the choice of utilizing PBS coping.
Parental figures employed more corporal punishment and utilized active coping, and planning as coping strategies when dealing with adolescents' problem behaviours. Interventions to discourage corporal punishment and promote more effective parental coping are needed.
青少年行为问题会给家长带来负担。缺乏良好的家长应对方式和策略可能会使青少年心理健康问题恶化。在尼日利亚这样资源有限的环境中，该领域的研究对于有效管理青少年行为问题可能具有参考价值。
我们评估了家长对有行为问题青少年的应对方式和策略。
采用整群抽样进行基于社区的横断面调查。使用简易应对方式问卷（BCI）评估应对策略，将其分为基于情绪的策略（EBS）和基于问题的策略（PBS）应对方式。用长处和困难问卷（SDQ）评估青少年行为问题。采用描述性和推断性统计方法分析数据。
招募了410名14.8±2.3岁青少年的家长。家长对青少年问题行为的应对方式包括44%采用体罚，只有少数（5.8%）为青少年寻求医疗或精神帮助。最常用的家长应对策略是“积极”应对（69%），而“工具性支持”是最少采用的应对策略。家长的年龄、性别、教育水平和收入与采用PBS应对方式的选择有关。
家长在处理青少年问题行为时更多地采用体罚，并将积极应对和计划作为应对策略。需要采取干预措施来劝阻体罚并促进更有效的家长应对方式。
