2024-10-29
Eda Keser Açıkbaş - Türkan Yılmaz Irmak
A Review of Internalizing Behavior Problems in Adolescence
Adolescence is a developmental period marked by significant changes and developmental gains across various domains. Some adolescents experience adjustment and behavioral problems that negatively impact themselves and those around them. Various classifications have been proposed to categorize these issues, one of which is the dual classification by Achenbach and Edelbrock (1978), which categorizes problems into internalizing and externalizing behavioral issues. According to this classification, internalizing problems refer to over-controlled issues such as suppressed emotions, shyness, anxiety, and personality disorders, while externalizing problems refer to under-controlled issues such as aggression, hyperactivity, and conduct disorders. This study focuses on internalizing behavioral problems observed during adolescence and evaluates risk factors related to these issues in terms of biological, individual, and contextual factors. Findings indicate that the prevalence rates of internalizing problems vary depending on the specific internalizing issue (e.g., depression, anxiety) and the geographical location. Notably, most studies tend to focus on a single internalizing problem when examining the associated biological, individual, and contextual factors. Thus, a need for further research on internalizing behavioral problems during adolescence is evident in both national and international literature.