Mental Status and Related Factors in High School Adolescent Students

The purpose of this study was to determine in high school population adolescents’ mental status and related factors. A descriptive and cross-sectional survey conducted among 558 ninth-grade Turkish adolescents aged between 13 and 17. Sociademographic data form, Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was applied. The 25 self-report SDQ items are divided between 5 scales (hyperactivity scale, emotional symptoms scale, conduct problems scale, peer problems scale and prosocial scale) of 5 items each. In order to analyze the data; descriptive statistics, student's t test, One-way Anova tests were used. 15.1% of the students had 16-19 score (limit point), 9.1% had 20 and above score (abnormal) for SDQ and at risk. It was found that the SDQ scores are high in the students whom are older, in those who lives with relatives, in those who have divorced or separated family type, whose parents are irrevelant, whose family income is bad, in those whose relations are bad with the family or the people, in those who has problems in the continuation of human relations, in those who has a health problem, whose monthly income is not enough and in those who works somewhere else (p< 0.05). Mental problems are prevalent in high school students. The implementation of therapeutic, structured mental support program to adolescences with mental problems could be beneficial improving mental status of these individuals.