Emotional and Behavioural Symptoms in Adolescents: Age, Sex, and Psychosocial Risk

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse the presence of emotional and behavioural difficulties in adolescents and their relationship with personal (age and sex) and contextual (level of psychosocial risk) variables. The sample consisted of 802 participants (48.6% girls, 51.4% boys) aged between 9 and 16 years (M = 11.97, SD = 1.40). The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Psychosocial Risk Index were used. Significant differences were found as a function of sex, age and risk level. The presence of problems increased with age and under more adverse psychosocial conditions. The behavioural symptoms were more frequent in the boys, and the emotional symptoms and prosocial behaviours were more frequent in the girls. The regression analyses confirmed the predictive capacity of these variables. These results have implications for the understanding of mental health difficulties in adolescence, and they guide in the prevention for this population group.