title: Assessment of Self-Reported Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties Among Pre-University College Students in Bangalore, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The understanding of youth mental health needs and development of service delivery models is a national public health challenge.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The rates and predictors of emotional and behavioral problems among 1087 youth were assessed in a pre-university college in Bangalore, India. Variations in rates of disturbance, identified by using different cut-off points, were also examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used as a self-report screening tool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicated that 10.1% of adolescents had total difficulty levels in the abnormal range, with 9% at risk for emotional symptoms, 13% for conduct problems, 12.6% for hyperactivity/inattention and 9.4% for peer problems. Select gender differences were present. Cut-off scores derived from the sample yielded lower estimates of disturbance than the published cut-offs. Regression analysis identified predictors of total difficulty levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implications for assessment of youth mental health and planning targeted services in educational institutions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Poornima
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhola
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, St. John's Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Vidya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sathyanarayanan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Dorothy P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Rekha
authors.affiliation: Sreesha Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.affiliation: St. John's Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Tinku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thomas
keywords: Adolescents; India; emotional and behavioral difficulties; strengths and difficulties questionnaire; youth mental health