Self-reported emotional and behavioral problems in Nepalese adolescents from urban and rural areas

In this study, the prevalence of self-reported emotional/behavioral problems and the association of problem scales scores with demographic factors among 12-18 year old adolescents (n = 408) selected from urban and rural areas of the Western Developmental Region of Nepal, are discussed. The emotional/behavioral problems were assessed by the Youth Self-Report questionnaire. Girls had higher scores than boys for anxiety/depression, while boys had higher scores for delinquent behavior. Adolescents from the urban area exhibited significantly higher scores on most of the problem scales. With the exception of somatic complaints, all problem scale scores appeared to increase with age. Most of the Youth Self-Report scales revealed adequate internal consistencies. These findings might provide preliminary information on adolescents' emotional/behavioral problems. However, a detailed and comprehensive study is needed before an effective interventional program can be implemented. Further investigation, particularly taking into account the views of parents and teachers, is also needed, as this would provide novel perspectives on adolescents' problems.