JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

Abstract

Background: Adolescents are full of energy, have significant drive and new ideas. They are a posi-tive force for the nation and are mostly responsible for its future productivity, provided they undergo over-all development in a healthy manner. Aims: To find the help seeking behaviour of adolescents in an urban high community. Materials and methods: Fifty boys and girls in the age group of 13 to15 years from an urban high school in Kolar were studied. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the help seeking behavior of the adolescents. Results: Among the adolescents reporting with psychological problems, con-cern with their physical height, weight and lack of concentration was more common. Among those identi-fied with behavioural problems, lack of confidence and difficulty in maintaining peer relationship was more frequent. Health problems reported commonly reported were skin and eye problems, acne and general weakness. Boys reported more frequent psychological, medical and behavioral. Those residing in urban are-as and from nuclear families reported more psychological, medical and behavioral problems when com-pared to those from rural area and from joint family. Majority of the adolescent girls approached their mothers for seeking help to their problems. Conclusions: Providing information and education to school going adolescents on their common health problems and providing help as per their help seeking behavior is necessary.

Keywords: Help seeking behaviour, adolescent, school children