I.D. Noordin, I.B.Idris, N.A. Muhammad, H. Mohd Yusoff, N.A.Anuar, Q. Mohd Ghazali, et al.
Adolescenceisacrucialphaseinlife,asthisisthetimewhentheyaredevelopingtheir identity,whileat thesametimeformingrelationshipswithothers,includingtheirfamilymembers.This studyinvestigatedadolescents’mentalhealthstatus inMalaysiaanditsassociatedfactorsincluding self-esteemandparentingstylethatareexperiencedbythem.MaterialsandMethods:Across-sectionalstudy wasconductedamong248school-goingadolescentsaged13and14years inSelangor,Malaysia.ThevalidatedMalay versionoftheStrengthsandDifficultiesQuestionnaire(SDQ)was utilizedtoassessadolescents’mentalhealth status.In addition, theadolescents’self-esteemwasalso assessedusing theRosenbergSelf-EsteemScaleQuestionnairewhile theParentalBondingInstrumentwasused toassess theirparent’sparentingstyle. Results:Almost20%of the adolescentswerefoundtohavementalhealthproblemssuchasemotionalandconduct problems,hyperactivity disorder andpeerproblems.Usingmultivariate analysis,factorsthatwereassociatedwithmentalhealthproblems werefamilyincome(AOR=2.788,95%CI=1.397,5.563),adolescents’self-esteem(AOR=0.799,95%CI=0.668, 0.955)andtheirperceptiononparentalcontrol(AOR=1.175,95%CI=1.020,1.353).Conclusion:Thisstudy showsthatonefifthoftheseadolescentshadmentalhealthproblems.Lowsocio-economicfactors,over controllingparentsandpoorself-esteemwereassociatedwiththeseproblems.Inconclusion, itisimportant toeducateparentsoneffectiveparentingstyle,asimproperparentingmaycausepsychological distress amongadolescents.Improvingfamilies’socio-economicstatus andadolescents’self-esteemcanalsoenhance theirmentalhealthand well-being.