Unit:
Specialty Strategies in Development of Adolescents' HealthLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Vlasopoulou Foteini-Athanasia
Supervisors info:
Τσίτσικα Αρτεμισία, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή Αθηνών, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπουσα
Θωμαΐδου Δάφνη - Λορέττα, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Ψαλτοπούλου Θεοδώρα, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Εσωτερικευμένες διαταραχές σε εφήβους ηλικίας 14-17 ετών από επτά διαφορετικές Ευρωπαϊκές χώρες
Translated title:
Internalizing problems of adolescents age 14-17 from seven European countries
Summary:
Internalizing problems in adolescence have been associated with various factors, including socioeconomic indicators, family relationships, mental health problems, socio-cultural aspects and demographic variables. This study aimed to comparatively examine prevalence and risk factors for internalizing problems in adolescence from five European countries. A cross-sectional school-based study of adolescents 14-17.9 years was conducted in the European Network for Adolescent Behavior (EU NET ADB) survey. The current analysis used self-report questionnaires from Greece, Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain and Romania. Associations with internalizing problems were examined by multiple logistic regression analysis overall and by country, to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The sample consisted of 8,952 adolescents. Romania (2.4%) and Greece (7.6%) showed the lowest rates of internalizing problems in contrast to Iceland which showed the highest (11.1%). Lower school grades were associated with internalizing problems (adjusted OR=1.21, 95%CI: 1.08-1.36). On the other hand, higher education level of parents was associated with lower odds of internalizing problems (adjusted OR=0.75, 95%CI: 0.62-0.92). Maternal and paternal unemployment, gender and age were factors that affected the likelihood of internalizing problems in country-specific analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The socio-cultural context of each country seems to determine variations detected in internalizing problems of adolescents. Further research should thoroughly address cultural differences in order to better understand and intervene in aspects of internalizing problems in adolescence.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Internalizing problems, Demographic factors, Cross-national research, Adolescence
