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Social determinants of self-reported emotional and behavioral problems in Greek adolescents

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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to assess the social factors associated with self-reported emotional and behavioral problems among Greek adolescents.

Methods

At age 18, a population-based sample of 3373 Greek adolescents completed the Youth Self-Report (YSR) questionnaire.

Results

The results from the multivariate analysis indicated that both lack of intimate friendships and not having parental monitoring were independently associated with problem behavior among both male and female adolescents. Engagement in sexual activities was significantly associated with higher YSR scores among both genders. Absence of academic motivation was associated with higher YSR scores in girls only.

Conclusions

Our results confirm that social factors, including negative family functions, lack of academic motivation and not having close friends, were associated with emotional and behavioral problems among adolescents and imply the need to develop a supportive social network for adolescents.

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Acknowledgement

This research was funded by the European Commission Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources Program (contract number QLG1-CT-2000-01643) and the Academy of Athens. The authors would like to thank all the respondents who participated in this study for their contribution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1st Dept. of Pediatrics, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, 11527, Greece

    Aikaterini Kapi, Alexandra Veltsista, George Kavadias, Vasso Lekea & Chryssa Bakoula

Authors
  1. Aikaterini Kapi
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  2. Alexandra Veltsista
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  3. George Kavadias
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  4. Vasso Lekea
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  5. Chryssa Bakoula
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Correspondence to Chryssa Bakoula.

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Kapi, A., Veltsista, A., Kavadias, G. et al. Social determinants of self-reported emotional and behavioral problems in Greek adolescents. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 42, 594–598 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-007-0201-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-007-0201-4

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