Introduction: The adolescents comprise one fifth Indian population and mothers play a key role in their physical, mental and social development. So this study was done to assess mental health problems in school going adolescents and to find association with their mother’s education and employment.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study on four governments and four private school going adolescents (11-17 years) studying in 6th to 12th class in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The simple random sampling was done for selection of schools and students. The self reported version of strength & difficulty questionnaire (SDQ) and socio-demographic proforma were used as study tool. Microsoft-excel and primer software were used for data analysis.

Results: the 8.35% and 14.19% students had got abnormal and borderline total difficulty score respectively. The most prevalent problem was conduct (12%) followed by Emotional (10%), Peer (7%), Hyperactivity (6%) and Prosocial Problem (5%). The mental problems were higher in those mother were working than non-working/housewives (10 vs 8%), though insignificant. But mother education was significantly associated with mental problems (p value <0.05).

Conclusion: mental problems were found in 8.35% adolescents that need further evaluation and treatment by psychiatrist. Mother education is important for good mental health of their child.

Keywords: SDQ, Total difficulty score, borderline, adolescent. 

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Nikita Sharma

SMS Medical College, Jaipur (Rajasthan), India