EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN JODHPUR CITY

Adolescents are highly vulnerable to psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to explore the emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents. A community-based exploratory survey was conducted between November and December 2019. Cluster sampling was done. 300 adolescents in12 to 18 years of age group from the different randomly related areas of Jodhpur city were involved in the study. Emotional and behavioral problems were assessed by using a self-structured Emotional and behavioral problem questionnaire. Inform consent and assent were taken before filling the questionnaire Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied for analysis. SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis.Emotional problems are more prevalent in the population. Nearly 41% of participant falls under the borderline category and 1.33% i.e. 4 participant falls under the severe category comparatively behavioral problems are less prevalent. 21.66% of participant has a borderline level of behavioral problem and only one participant was found to have a severe level of behavioral problem. The domains under emotional problems have a higher mean value than the domains under behavioral. A number of siblings are significantly associated with behavioral problems. Emotional problems are more prevalent than behavioral problems. These data suggest that there is a need for mental health services for adolescents.