Studying the emotional and behavioral expression of adolescents in Gobi-Altai prefecture

Abstract

Introduction: Previous research has shown that approximately 20% of children and adolescents develop a mental illness at some point in their lifetime. According to the research of Bayarmaa V et al, the prevalence of behavioral and emotional disorder among adolescents is between 8.7% and 9.4%. As a result of these researches, it can be concluded that evaluating the mental health of adolescents and learning the risk factors that can affect it has become an urgent matter in Mongolia. Objective: Define the emotional and behavioral state of adolescents of Gobi-Altai prefecture by using SDQ. Material and method: We used various versions of the Strengths and DifÏculties Questionnaire (SDQ) applicable for children, adolescents, parents and teachers and determined exhibition of emotional and behavioral problems by cross-sectional analysis. Results: In our study, 50.5% (n=1107) of participants were boys, 49.5% (n=1085) were girls and totally 2192 participants were involved. Among the study participants, 40.3% of the children self-evaluated their emotional and behavioral state as normal, 30.3% as borderline and 29.45 as abnormal, and 42.8% of the parents and caregivers self-evaluated themselves as normal, 23.9% as borderline and 33.4% as abnormal. Moreover, 48.2% of the teachers self-evaluated themselves as normal, 32.1% as borderline and 19.7% as abnormal. Regarding the survey results, 58.6% of adolescents in Gobi-Altai province were healthy, 36.1% of them had emotional and behavioral problems and 5.2% of them had emotional and behavioral disorders. Conclusion: 1. Among the study participants, 40.3% of total adolescents evaluated their emotional and behavioral expression as normal, 30.3% as borderline and 29.4% as abnormal. 42.8% of parents and caregivers evaluated as normal, 23.9% as borderline and 33.4% abnormal; 48.2% of teachers evaluated as normal, 32.1% as borderline and 19.7% as abnormal. 2. However, 58.6% of adolescents in Gobi-Altai prefecture were healthy, 36.1% of them had emotional and behavioral problems and 5.2% of them were with emotional and behavioral disorders.