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Prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among adolescents in Bangladesh

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Abstract

Background

Emotional and behavioral problems among adolescents is a global concern. Previous studies conducted in Bangladesh have highlighted the importance to effectively prevent and address emotional and behavioral problems among adolescents to improve their psychological well-being. Despite these efforts, there remains limited research specifically addressing emotional and behavioral problems, conduct disorders, hyperactivity/attention disorders, and peer relationship problems among adolescents in Bangladesh in terms of age, gender, grade, and location. To address this knowledge gap, the present study aimed to comprehensively investigate the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among school-going adolescents in Bangladesh.

Methods

The study employed a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique to recruit a total of 1496 participants. The socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, such as age, gender, grade, location, birth order, family type, monthly family income, and parental education were collected. Emotional and behavioral problems were assessed using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), while the chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze the data with STATA software.

Results

The prevalence of emotional disorder was 9.09% (7.73 − 10.65%). The rate was 21.72% (19.70 − 23.88%) for conduct disorder, 6.21% (5.09 − 7.55%) for hyperactivity, and for peer-relationship problem, the rate was 15.10% (13.37 − 17.01%) among adolescents. Overall, gender, grade, location, monthly family income, and parental education were significantly associated with emotional and behavioral problems. More specifically, adolescent girls (OR = 2.90 for the emotional disorder), grade (8th: OR = 2.07, 9th: OR = 1.95, for the emotional disorder), urban residents (OR = 2.46, for conduct disorder; OR = 2.29, for hyperactivity; OR = 2.03, for peer-relationship problem), poor monthly family income (OR = 2.84, for peer-relationship problem) significantly increased the risk of psychiatric morbidity.

Conclusion

The study highlights the need for school-based intervention programs to address adolescent emotional and behavioral problems. By targeting vulnerable individuals, these programs can effectively reduce mental health problems among adolescents.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the participants.

Funding

The present study gets financial support from the University of South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, University of South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Firoj Al-Mamun, Johurul Islam, Mohammad Muhit & Mohammed A. Mamun

  2. CHINTA Research Bangladesh, Savar, 1342, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Firoj Al-Mamun & Mohammed A. Mamun

  3. Department of Public Health & Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, 1342, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Firoj Al-Mamun & Mohammed A. Mamun

  4. CSF Global, Banani, 1213, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Johurul Islam & Mohammad Muhit

Authors
  1. Firoj Al-Mamun
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Contributions

FAM & MAM conceptualized the study and collected the data. FAM analyzed the data, interpretated the results, and wrote the first draft. MAM contributed to the manuscript preparation and edited the first draft. JI contributed to data collection, management, and review. MM supervised the project, and reviewed and edited the manuscript. All authors approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Firoj Al-Mamun.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Al-Mamun, F., Islam, J., Muhit, M. et al. Prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among adolescents in Bangladesh. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-024-02673-7

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