Patterns and Related Factors of Problem Behaviors Among Chinese Adolescents

Abstract

Adolescents are quite susceptible to the increasing social pressure, and they tend to show more problem behaviors, including externalizing and internalizing problems. To understand the characteristics and related factors of problem behaviors among Chinese adolescents, the current study used a person-centered approach to explore the latent profiles of their problem behaviors and assessed the different roles of individual and environmental factors. Self-report questionnaires were used to survey 2,173 adolescents on their problem behaviors, loneliness, depression, exposure to violent media, bullying victimization, and perceived social support. The latent profile analysis identified three profiles of adolescents’ problem behaviors: complex problem behaviors group (3.0%), suicidal intention group (5.7%), and healthy group (91.3%). Multiple logistic regression results showed that compared with the complex problem behaviors group, girls were more likely than boys to belong to the healthy or suicidal intention group; adolescents with high levels of loneliness and bullying victimization were more likely to be in the complex problem behaviors group; adolescents with high levels of depression and exposure to violent media were more likely to be in the suicidal intention group; and those with a high level of perceived social support were more likely to be in the healthy group. Compared with the healthy group, girls and those with high levels of loneliness, depression, exposure to violent media, and bullying victimization were more likely to be in the suicidal intention group; adolescents with a high level of perceived social support were more likely to be in the healthy group. These results indicated the heterogeneity of problem behaviors among Chinese adolescents, and attention should be paid to the above factors in intervening in their externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors.