Associating factors with knowledge of high school teachers regarding adolescent behavioral problems: A descriptive analysis
Abstract
Adolescence is long-standing behavioral difficulties which may results in mental health problem. Adolescence are school going and knowledge of school teachers have important impact on these adolescents. So this present study was aimed to find out the factors affecting on knowledge of school teachers regarding adolescent behavioral problems. This study observed that a majority of the respondents (83%) had good level of knowledge on adolescent behavioral problems. It was also observed that although sex of teacher was not found to associated with this knowledge but this knowledge of school teachers was found to associated with age of school teacher, experience of service and status of in service trainings. It was found that knowledge of the school teachers regarding adolescent behavioral problems increases with increase age. It was also found that knowledge regarding adolescent behavioral problems was observed in school teachers who have 6-10 years of service and in those who had received in service trainings than their counterparts.
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Introduction
Adolescence is a time of transition, an age when the person is not yet an adult, but is no longer a child, a unique age which occurs between 12 to 20 years. The developmental tasks that emerge during adolescence threaten the person’s defense. They can either stimulate new adaptive ways of coping or lead to regression and maladaptive coping responses. Old problems may interfere with the adolescent’s coping abilities, and environmental factors may help or hinder the adolescent’s attempts to deal with them. Previous coping skills if used successfully can promote healthy adaptation and integrated adult functioning. During adolescence major events occur and attempts are made to deal with them. This results in behavior uniquely “adolescent”.1
Adolescence is describes this stage of adolescence, identity versus identity diffusion. This stage is followed in young adulthood by the stage of intimacy versus isolation. He stressed that identity must be established before intimacy can occur. 1
According to the WHO and UNICEF health report 2001, as many as 20% of children worldwide are suffering from behavioural problems, which could lead to serious public health problems. The WHO reported that 70% of premature adult deaths could be linked to negative adolescent behaviour such as smoking and substance abuse.2
The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance system (U.S) conducted a national school-based survey of more than 16,000 students in 151 schools.
Conclusion
It can be concluded from this study that a majority (83%) of the respondents had good level of knowledge while none of them could be rated as having poor level of knowledge. The knowledge of school teachers was found to associate with age of school teacher, experience of service and status of in service trainings. It was found that knowledge of the school teachers regarding adolescent behavioral problems increases with increase age. It was also found that knowledge regarding adolescent behavioral problems was observed in school teachers who have 6-10 years of service and in those who had received in service trainings than their counterparts.