Internalizing Behavior Problems in Context of Negative Life Events in Adolescence

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the internalizing problems of adolescence in context of perceived life events. The sample of 602 adolescents was collected from different schools and colleges. The participants completed the Life Event Checklist (LEC; Blake et al. 1995) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). The findings suggest that adolescents with high internalizing problems scored high on negative events of fire explosion, exposure to a toxic substance, violent death and serious injury caused to someone close. Moreover, adolescence with less internalizing problems scored high on events of physical assault, assault with weapons, and unwanted sexual assault. Furthermore, girls scored high on stress as compared to boys whereas insignificant gender differences are evident on depression and anxiety. The findings further suggest that boys scored significantly high on negative life events of natural disaster, fire explosion, combat or exposure to war zone. Whereas, girls significantly scored high on serious accident at work, severe human suffering. The findings of research and clinical implications.