Personal and contextual factors related to internalizing problems during adolescence

Abstract

Background Over the past decades, ample empirical evidence has been collected about the factors linked to internalizing problems during adolescence. However, there is a lack of research that use holistic approaches to study the joint analysis of a series of contextual and personal variables considered to be related to internalizing problems. Objective This cross sectional study analyzes the relationship between internalizing problems during adolescence and a constellation of contextual (parenting and peer rela- tionships) and personal variables, some of which are linked to the control and regulation of emotions. Method The sample consisted of 2,400 adolescents (1,068 boys and 1,332 girls) between 12 and 17 years of ages, who were selected in twenty secondary schools located in western Andalusia (Spain). They completed questionnaires in their classrooms. Results The results showed significant differences depending on the gender of the par- ticipant with girls scoring higher than boys in internalizing problems. This gender dif- ference in the prevalence of problems increased with age. Also, significant relationships were discovered among most of the personal and contextual variables analyzed and internalizing problems, both in boys and girls. Our data showed an interesting moderating effect, because empathy was positively associated with internalizing problems, but only for girls with low scores on emotional clarity. Conclusions The results of this study provide an interesting contribution to the knowledge of contextual and personal factors regarding internalizing problems during adolescence. Among contextual protective factors, the importance of parental affection and attachment to the peer group must be emphasized, while parental psychological control had negative effects. The results also underscore the importance of certain personal variables, such as risk or protection factors, as well as the moderation relationships established between some of them, including the moderating effect of emotional clarity on the rela- tionship between empathy and internalizing problems, although only in the case of girls.