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..:: Risk behaviors as a dimension of mental health assessment in adolescents 17 ::..
Risk behaviors as a dimension of mental health assessment in adolescents 17
 

Krzysztof Jan Bobrowski, Jan Czesław Czabała, Celina Brykczyńska

Risk behaviors as a dimension of mental health assessment in adolescents   17

 

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Summary

Aim. An assessment of the health status in adolescence includes, among other variables, risk behaviours

that may involve either direct or potential mental health risk. In the study two categories were introduced

in the mental health assessment, defined as externalising (problem behaviour) and internalising (emotional

disturbances) indicators. The first aim of the study was to estimate problem behaviour prevalence among

students beginning secondary school, while the second objective was to analyse the relationships between

internalisation and externalisation indicators.

Material and method. The participants of the study were first grade students (N = 1123) of secondary

schools in the City of Warsaw area. They responded to a Polish adaptation of a self-report Canadian

questionnaire monitoring the adolescents' mental health. The following externalising indicators of risk behaviours

were used: getting drunk, problems due to alcohol drinking, drug use, problems caused by drug

use, violence, law-breaking. The following internalising indicators were analysed: depressive symptoms

(as measured by the CES-D scale), psychological distress (the GHQ-12 questionnaire by Goldberg), selfrated

poor mental health, suicidal thoughts.

Results. The presence of at least one of the risk behaviours was reported by a half of the sample (52%),

more often by boys (59.9%). A high percentage of those manifesting problem behaviour were characterised

by a higher intensity of experienced psychological stress, more severe depressive symptoms and worse

self-rated psychological functioning. Those who reported symptoms of poor mental health, together with

two or more problem behaviours constituted 14.9% of the sample.

Conclusion. The group at risk for mental health constituted about a third of the sample studied, irrespective

of gender.

 

mental health / risk behaviours / adolescents

 

Lista artykułów w numerze :
Numer: 1
Tytuł: ARCHIVES OF PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY 1 & 2 / 2007
Wydany: 2007-06-16
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