INTERNALIZED AND EXTERNALIZED BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS IN YOUNG ADOLESCENTS WITH REGARD TO GENDER

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to determine the differences between externalized and internalized behavioral problems in the population of young adolescents in the city of Tuzla on eight different scales of syndromes (anxiety/depression, reticence, physical difficulties, aggression, rules violation, social problems, thinking problems, and attention problems). The paper starts from the assumption that there are differences between younger adolescents with internalized and externalized behavioral problems with regard to gender in such a way that externalized problems will be more frequent in male adolescents and internalized behavioral problems in female adolescents. The sample of respondents in this study consists of 587 young adolescents of both genders. The research was conducted in fifteen primary schools in the city of Tuzla. The Achenbach dimensional classification of behavioral disorders was used for assessment (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001). The results show higher scores for internalized behavioral problems. Female adolescents had statistically significantly higher scores on the Anxiety/Depression, Somatic Problems, and Thought Problems subscales.

Keywords

• internalized and externalized problems
• gender
• elementary school students