Cognitive, Emotional and Behavioural Functioning of Adolescents: A Jordanian Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2520-5293/18683Keywords:
adolescents, behavioural functioning, cognitive functioning, Jordan, mothers, psychosocial impairmentAbstract
Adolescence is a transitional period characterised by significant biological and psychological changes that profoundly impact individuals’ overall well-being. This study aimed to assess the psychological functioning of adolescents in Jordan through a correlational analysis, focusing on the relationship between various demographic factors and cognitive, emotional and behavioural well-being. A descriptive correlational study was conducted with 363 adolescents selected using a stratified sampling method. The participants filled out the Youth Self-Report Pediatric Symptom Checklist (Y-PSC). The data was analysed using basic statistics, t-tests, and multiple regression. The results showed that the mean score for the Y-PSC was 27.50 (SD = 20.14). Specifically, the mean score for the attention subscale was 4.65 (SD = 5.63); for the internalising subscale it was 3.91 (SD = 3.00); and for the externalising subscale it was 4.90 (SD = 4.22). According to the Y-PSC and its subscales, the following proportions of the sample exhibited psychological impairment: 36.6% (n = 133) on the Y-PSC total score; 21.5% (n = 77) on the attention subscale; 37.7% (n = 135) on the internalising subscale; and 29.8% (n = 107) on the externalising subscale. Male gender, lower family income, lower maternal education level, having a chronic disease, and age were significant predictors of poor psychological functioning in adolescents, as indicated by significant differences in the Y-PSC scores (p < .05). Thus, the study found that Jordanian adolescents experience higher levels of psychosocial issues compared to adolescents in other countries. Understanding the factors that contribute to these issues is crucial for helping adolescents transition to adulthood in a healthy manner. Further research in Jordan is needed to develop programmes that will promote better psychosocial health. In terms of originality, Jordan has been deeply affected by political instability, which has placed extra pressure on the country’s mental health services. Therefore, the study has underscored the importance of identifying at-risk adolescents and enhancing their cognitive, emotional and behavioural well-being.
References
Akeyo, A. F., E. B. Mukadi, and N. Nyanga’ra. 2023. “Counseling on Social Skills and Its Relationship to Academic Progression and Psychological Well-being of Adolescent Student Mothers in Public Secondary Schools in Nakuru County, Kenya.” International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies 10 (3): 62–72. https://doi.org/10.22259/2394-6296.1003005
AlAzzam, M., and S. Abuhammad. 2021. “Knowledge and Attitude toward Mental Health and Mental Health Problems among Secondary School Students in Jordan.” Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing 34 (1): 57–67. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcap.12301
AlAzzam, M. M., A. Y. Al-Sagarat, N. M. Abdel Razeq, and F. A. Alsaraireh. 2021. “Depression and Anxiety among School Adolescent Females: A National Study from Jordan.” School Psychology International 42 (5): 520–538. https://doi.org/10.1177/01430343211017181
AlHamawi, R., Y. Khader, S. A. Khudair, E. Tanaka, and M. Al Nsour. 2023. “Mental Health and Psychosocial Problems among Children and Adolescents in Jordan: A Scoping Review.” Children 10 (7): 1165. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10071165
Al-Hassan, O. M., T. De Baz, F. Ihmeideh, and I. Jumiaan. 2021. “Collectivism and Individualism: Jordanian Mothers’ Child-Rearing Values.” International Journal of Early Years Education 29 (2): 199–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2020.1814216
Alkaid Albqoor, M., K. M. Hamdan, A. M. Shaheen, H. Albqour, N. Banhidarah, H. M. Amre, and A. Hamdan-Mansour. 2023. “Coping among Adolescents: Differences and Interaction Effects of Gender, Age, and Supportive Social Relationships in Arab Culture.” Current Psychology 42 (11): 9071–9079. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02179-4
Bawadi, H., Z. M. Al-Hamdan, E. Farhat, K. Y. Aldasoqi, M. Alhammdan, and S. Jabaiti. 2022. “The Rights of Unborn and Newborn Babies in Jordanian Arab Culture: Implications for Practice.” Open Nursing Journal 16 (1). https://doi.org/10.2174/18744346-v16-e2206300
Bista, B., P. Thapa, D. Sapkota, S. B. Singh, and P. K. Pokharel. 2016. “Psychosocial Problems among Adolescent Students: An Exploratory Study in the Central Region of Nepal.” Frontiers in Public Health 4: 158. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2016.00158
Bitsko, R. H., Claussen, A. H., Lichstein, J., Black, L. I., Jones, S. E., Danielson, M. L., Hoenig, J. M., Davis Jack, S. P., Brody, D. J., Gyawali, S., et al. 2022. “Mental Health Surveillance among Children – United States, 2013–2019.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Supplement 71 (2). https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su7102a1
Castro, M., and C. Tirso. 2023. “The Impacts of the Age of Majority on the Exposure to Violent Crimes.” Empirical Economics 64 (2): 983–1023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00181-022-02262-0
Chougule, K., A. Halder, P. Behere, and N. Chougule. 2024. “Prevalence, Patterns and Correlation of Behavioral and Emotional Disorders in School-Going Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study.” Indian Journal of Private Psychiatry 18 (1): 19–21. https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10067-0153
Clemens, V., E. Von Hirschhausen, and J. M. Fegert. 2022. “Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: Implications for the Mental Health Policy of Children and Adolescents in Europe – a Scoping Review.” European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 31 (5): 701–713. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-020-01615-3
Dardas, L. A., S. G. Silva, M. J. Smoski, D. Noonan, and L. A. Simmons. 2018. “The Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms among Arab Adolescents: Findings from Jordan.” Public Health Nursing 35 (2): 100–108. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.12363
Di Giorgio, E., D. Di Riso, G. Mioni, and N. Cellini. 2021. “The Interplay between Mothers’ and Children Behavioral and Psychological Factors during COVID-19: An Italian Study.” European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 30 (9): 1401–1412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-020-01631-3
Fine, S. L., R. J. Musci, J. K. Bass, E. Chipeta, E. M. Mafuta, A. W. Pinandari, S. A. Wilopo, X. Zuo, and R. W. Blum. 2022. “A Multi-Country Study of Risk and Protective Factors for Emotional and Behavioral Problems among Early Adolescents.” Journal of Adolescent Health 71 (4): 480–487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.05.002
Gupta, A. K., M. Mongia, and A. K. Garg. 2017. “A Descriptive Study of Behavioral Problems in Schoolgoing Children.” Industrial Psychiatry Journal 26 (1): 91–94. https://doi.org/10.4103/ipj.ipj_39_17
Hameed, S., M. K. Mesum, H. K. Khan, A. Bano, S. Mehdi, S. Jabeen, and N. Ali. 2024. “Determination of Latent Factors Influencing Students’ Dropout in Secondary Schools.” OEconomia 7 (2). https://oeconomiajournal.com/index.php/view/article/view/17/16
Högberg, B. 2021. “Educational Stressors and Secular Trends in School Stress and Mental Health Problems in Adolescents.” Social Science and Medicine 270: 113616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113616
Jellinek, M. S., J. M. Murphy, J. Robinson, A. Feins, S. Lamb, and T. Fenton. 1988. “Pediatric Symptom Checklist: Screening School-Age Children for Psychosocial Dysfunction.” Journal of Pediatrics 112 (2): 201–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(88)80056-8
Jordan Department of Statistics. 2022. “Demographic Statistics – (Population).” https://jorinfo.dos.gov.jo/Databank/pxweb/en/Demographi_Statistics/-/Table5.px/
Jörns-Presentati, A., A-K. Napp, A. S. Dessauvagie, D. J. Stein, D. Jonker, E. Breet, W. Charles, R. L. Swart, M. L., and S. Suliman. 2021. “The Prevalence of Mental Health Problems in Sub-Saharan Adolescents: A Systematic Review.” PLoS One 16 (5): e0251689. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251689
Kovess-Masfety, V., M. J. Woodward, K. Keyes, A. Bitfoi, M. G. Carta, C. Koç, S. Lesinskiene, Z. Mihova, R. Otten, and M. Husky. 2021. “Gender, the Gender Gap, and Their Interaction; Analysis of Relationships with Children’s Mental Health Problems.” Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 56: 1049–1057. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-020-01950-5
Lawrence, K. C., and T. A. Adebowale. 2023. “Adolescence Dropout Risk Predictors: Family Structure, Mental Health, and Self‐Esteem.” Journal of Community Psychology 51 (1): 120–136. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22884
Lerner, R. M. 2021. “Children and Adolescents as Producers of Their Own Development.” In Individuals as Producers of Their Own Development, 75–102. Abingdon: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003089407-7
Nunes, C., C. Martins, L. Ayala-Nunes, F. Matos, E. Costa, and A. Gonçalves. 2021. “Parents’ Perceived Social Support and Children’s Psychological Adjustment.” Journal of Social Work 21 (3): 497–512. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017320911614
Petersen, I. T., O. Lindhiem, B. LeBeau, J. E. Bates, G. S. Pettit, J. E. Lansford, and K. A. Dodge. 2018. “Development of Internalizing Problems from Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood: Accounting for Heterotypic Continuity with Vertical Scaling.” Developmental Psychology 54 (3): 586. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000449
Plenty, S., C. Magnusson, and S. B. Låftman. 2021. “Internalising and Externalising Problems during Adolescence and the Subsequent Likelihood of Being Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) among Males and Females: The Mediating Role of School Performance.” SSM-Population Health 15: 100873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100873
Salah, E. M., G. A. Yamamah, H. S. Megahed, S. E. Salem, S. El-din, and A. G. Khalifa. 2013. “Screening for Depressive Symptoms and Their Associated Risk Factors in Adolescent Students in South Sinai, Egypt.” Life Science Journal 10 (3): 433–443.
Shanneik, Y. 2021. “Displacement, Humanitarian Interventions and Gender Rights in the Middle East: Syrian Refugees in Jordan as a Case Study.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 47 (15): 3329–3344. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2021.1926944
Shorey, S., E. D. Ng, and C. H. J. Wong. 2022. “Global Prevalence of Depression and Elevated Depressive Symptoms among Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis.” British Journal of Clinical Psychology 61 (2): 287–305. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12333
Sørlie, M-A. 2021. “Testing the Effectiveness of the N-PALS Model – a School-Wide Framework to Prevent Externalizing Student Problem Behavior.” PhD diss., University of Oslo.
Stephenson, J. 2021. “CDC Study Finds Worsening Anxiety and Depression, Especially in Young Adults, during COVID-19 Pandemic.” JAMA Health Forum 2 (4): e210724. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2021.0724
Stone, A., M. DeGroot, A. McVarnock, T. Cheng, J. C. Bowker, and R. J. Coplan. 2025. “The Risks of Being a Wallflower: Exploring Links between Introversion, Aspects of Solitude, and Indices of Well-Being in Adolescence.” Behavioral Sciences 15 (2): 108. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020108
Ticku, S., S. Nath, N. Ramesh, and C. A. Riedy. 2024. “Attitudes toward Adolescent Mental Health Screening in a Dental Setting: A Mixed-Methods Study.” JDR Clinical and Translational Research 9 (1_suppl): 70S–87S. https://doi.org/10.1177/23800844241273775
Tsagem, S. Y. 2022. “The Adolescence Stage.” Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Open Educational Resources Repository (UDUS-OER). http://oer.udusok.edu.ng/xmlui/handle/123456789/1020
Ventriglio, A., J. Torales, J. M. Castaldelli-Maia, D. De Berardis, and D. Bhugra. 2021. “Urbanization and Emerging Mental Health Issues.” CNS Spectrums 26 (1): 43–50. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1092852920001236
Welner, M., M. DeLisi, H. M. Knous-Westfall, C. C. Meltzer, and J. D. Seward. 2023. “Homicide and Criminal Maturity of Juvenile Offenders: A Critical Review.” American Journal of Criminal Justice 48 (5): 1157–1182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-022-09694-5
WHO (World Health Organization). 2020. “Jordan-WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health and Situation Assessment.” https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/mental-health/special-initiative/who-special-initiative-country-report---jordan---2020_414542ae-ce5d-4f1d-bf40-fe1b1cbf8003.pdf?sfvrsn=e813985_4
Yan, A. F., Z. Chen, Y. Wang, J. A. Campbell, Q-L. Xue, M. Y. Williams, L. S. Weinhardt, and L. E. Egede. 2022. “Effectiveness of Social Needs Screening and Interventions in Clinical Settings on Utilization, Cost, and Clinical Outcomes: A Systematic Review.” Health Equity 6 (1): 454–475. https://doi.org/10.1089/heq.2022.0010
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Unisa Press
