Gender Specific Competence, And Psychological Health Risk (Emotional and Behavioral Problems) Among Non-Clinical Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Emotional and behavioral functioning during adolescence is an important developmental outcome that strongly predicts the individual's future adjustment. It is important to identify the emotional and behavioral problems (EBPs) at an early stage for the treatment and promotion of mental health services.

Objective: In this context, the present study was conducted to compare male and female adolescents' competence and Psychological health risk (Youth-Self Report),

Methods: The sample was comprised of 120 adolescents. A cross-sectional group Design was adopted for this study. The measurement outcome for competence and health risk was Youth Self-Report TM (Narrow Band Syndrome Scale) developed by Achenbach, and Rescorla (2001). The obtained data were statistically analyzed under descriptive and inferential (Independent t-test) analysis with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS-version 22).

Result: The significant difference between males and females was observed over emotional and behavioral problems distinguished under internalizing (Anxiety & Depression sub-scale) and externalizing (Rule-breaking behavior and aggressiveness sub-scale) scales. However, the difference was not found to be significant for competency risk (Activity, Academic and social) as well as health risk which are internalizing (somatic complains), and problems those are comprised under NINE- Neither Internalizing Nor Externalizing (Social and Attention Problems sub-scale) scale of health risk and their

Conclusion: Male and female are different in the prevalence of EBPs. Hence, future research could focus on exploring not only the prevalence but also the manifestation and the subjective experience of emotional and behavioral problems among different genders.