Presentation Information
[O-13-01]Exploring different needs of intervention in adolescents with different levels of psychological difficulties
*Nabilah Amalina Rozi1,2, Sherly Saragih Turnip1 (1. Research of Community Mental Health Initiative (RoCMHI), Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Indonesia (Indonesia), 2. Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet (Sweden))
Keywords:
Psychological difficulties,Psychological well-being,Adolescents,Indonesia
Background: Psychological difficulties are risk factors to Indonesian adolescents’ psychological well-being. Indonesian adolescents also have a higher cut-off point for classifying levels of psychological difficulties compared to the suggested cut-off point. These findings were valuable in developing screening and intervention programs to increase their psychological well-being through preventing mental health problems. However, empirical evidence is needed to determine which psychological difficulties level should be prioritised for intervention.
Objectives: This study aimed to identify which levels of psychological difficulties showed significant differences in psychological well-being.
Methods: This is a school-based cross-sectional study involving middle school students from five schools in Banyuwangi, Indonesia. We classified adolescents' psychological difficulties levels (close-to-average, slightly raised, high, and very high) using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scores. We measured psychological well-being using Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWB-18). One-way ANOVA was used to compare psychological well-being between levels in each difficulty (hyperactivity, conduct problems, emotional problems, and peer problems).
Results: 1138 adolescents aged 9–17 years old (Mage = 13.91, SD = 0.82) participated in the study, with 50.3% being male and 49.7% being female. One-way ANOVA showed significant differences in adolescents’ psychological well-being between levels in hyperactivity (F (3, 1132) = 45.01, p < .001), conduct problems (F (3, 1132) = 21.72, p < .001), emotional problems (F (3, 1131) = 56.08, p < .001), and peer problems (F (2, 1133) = 60.24, p < .001). Post-hoc comparison using the Tukey HSD test indicated that the largest mean differences were between the close-to-average and slightly raised groups, in almost all psychological difficulties.
Discussion: A higher cut-off point may cause psychological difficulties to be overlooked and normalised, while interventions to prevent further progression of difficulties may be beneficial for increasing Indonesian adolescents’ psychological well-being. This study highlights the importance of screening and early intervention.
Objectives: This study aimed to identify which levels of psychological difficulties showed significant differences in psychological well-being.
Methods: This is a school-based cross-sectional study involving middle school students from five schools in Banyuwangi, Indonesia. We classified adolescents' psychological difficulties levels (close-to-average, slightly raised, high, and very high) using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scores. We measured psychological well-being using Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWB-18). One-way ANOVA was used to compare psychological well-being between levels in each difficulty (hyperactivity, conduct problems, emotional problems, and peer problems).
Results: 1138 adolescents aged 9–17 years old (Mage = 13.91, SD = 0.82) participated in the study, with 50.3% being male and 49.7% being female. One-way ANOVA showed significant differences in adolescents’ psychological well-being between levels in hyperactivity (F (3, 1132) = 45.01, p < .001), conduct problems (F (3, 1132) = 21.72, p < .001), emotional problems (F (3, 1131) = 56.08, p < .001), and peer problems (F (2, 1133) = 60.24, p < .001). Post-hoc comparison using the Tukey HSD test indicated that the largest mean differences were between the close-to-average and slightly raised groups, in almost all psychological difficulties.
Discussion: A higher cut-off point may cause psychological difficulties to be overlooked and normalised, while interventions to prevent further progression of difficulties may be beneficial for increasing Indonesian adolescents’ psychological well-being. This study highlights the importance of screening and early intervention.