Supervisors info:
Αρτεμισία Τσίτσικα, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπουσα
Λωρέττα Θωμαΐδου, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Θεοδώρα Ψαλτοπούλου, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
This study focuses on externalizing disorders, consisting of aggressive and delinquent behaviors, during adolescence. Its aim is to estimate prevalence and determine which personal (gender, age, Β.Μ.Ι, immigration, school grades) and family factors (parents’ age, work status, relationship status, educational level, immigration and the presence of siblings) are associated with externalizing disorders. The study took place in secondary schools of Greece, Spain, Poland, The Netherlands, Romania and Iceland between October 2011 and May 2012. 7,495 adolescents, 14-17 years old, completed self-administered, anonymous questionnaires with personal and family data and the Youth Self Report (YSR) scale.
The results of the statistical analysis suggest that the prevalence of externalizing disorders in the six countries is 7% overall, while Iceland reports the smallest prevalence of 4% and Poland the largest with a prevalence of 10%. The factors that seem to be associated with externalizing disorders in adolescence are the adolescent’s school performance and BMI. Specifically, adolescents with very low school performance (1- 9.9/20) have almost five times the odds of suffering from externalizing disorders, those with grades 10-11.9 three times the odds, those with grades 12-14.9 twice the odds and students with grades 15-17.9 1.5 times the odds compared to adolescents with high school grades (18-20). Οbese adolescents have almost three times the odds of externalizing disorders compared to normal weight adolescents. Parental low or medium academic level and mother’s academic level are also linked to externalizing disorders in adolescents.
Keywords:
Externalizing disorders, Behavioral problems, Adolescent health, Adolescence, YSR, EU NET ADB
