title: Psychological maltreatment, emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents: The mediating role of resilience and self-esteem.
abstract: In this study, structural equation modeling was used to examine the mediating role of resilience and self-esteem in the relationships between psychological maltreatment-emotional problems and psychological maltreatment-behavioral problems in adolescents. Participants were 937 adolescents from different high schools in Turkey. The sample included 502 female (53.6%) and 435 male (46.4%) students, 14-19 years old (mean age=16.51, SD=1.15). Results indicated that psychological maltreatment was negatively correlated with resilience and self-esteem, and positively correlated with behavioral problems and emotional problems. Resilience and self-esteem also predicted behavioral problems and emotional problems. Finally, psychological maltreatment predicted emotional and behavioral problems mediated by resilience and self-esteem. Resilience and self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between psychological maltreatment-behavioral and psychological maltreatment-emotional problems in adolescents. Thus, resilience and self-esteem appear to play a protective role in emotional problems and behavioral problems in psychologically maltreated individuals. Implications are discussed and suggestions for psychological counselors and other mental health professionals are presented.
authors.affiliation: Suleyman Demırel University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gökmen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000209:etiology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D000071277:Harassment, Non-Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012649:Self Concept; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Behavioral problems; Emotional problems; Psychological maltreatment; Resilience; Self-esteem