title: Gender differences in factors associated with perceived need and use of Korean adolescents mental health services.
abstract: This study investigated the socio-demographic characteristics and emotional and behavioral factors associated with the perceived need and actual use of adolescent mental health services according to genders in Korea. We assessed 1,857 middle school students aged 14-16 years. We administered a self-reported questionnaire including questions on their socio-demographic data, Korean Youth Self Report, and self perceived need and actual use of mental health services. Overall, 11.6 % of the adolescents demonstrated a self perceived need for mental health services regarding their emotional or behavioral problems, while 2.1 % had sought mental health services. There were discrepancies between the perceived need and actual use. Most adolescents (81.6 %) used mental health services without self-perceived need, and only 3.3 % of adolescents with self-perceived need utilized mental health services. The perceived need of mental health services is positively influenced by the adolescent's anxious/depressed problems in both genders. The use of them is negatively influenced by the withdrawn problem in adolescent boys, while positively influenced by the aggressive behavior in adolescent girls. To increase the actual use of mental health services more attention needs to be focused on their internalizing problems, such as anxious/depressed and withdrawn problems, in addition to externalizing problems in both genders.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Ajou University School of Medicine, 5 Woncheon-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, 443-721, Korea.
authors: Nam Hee
authors: NH
authors: Kim
authors: Ki Young
authors: KY
authors: Lim
authors: Young Ki
authors: YK
authors: Chung
authors: Jae Sung
authors: JS
authors: Noh
authors: Yun Mi
authors: YM
authors: Shin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010465:Perception; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires