Mental health problems among adolescents aged 15 - 19 years residing in condominium apartments Soysapura, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

Abstract

A descriptive cross sectional study using a sample of 400 adolescents tged 15 to 19 years were Selected. The study instruments consisted of an interviewer administered questionnaire to describe the socio demographic characteristics.The prevalence of individual mental health problems were emotional problems (6.5 percent) conduct problems (18.3 percent), hyper activity problems (5.3 percent) peer problems (25.5 percent) and prosocial problems (18 percent). Poor relationship between parents . Among boys with fathers relationship (p=0.000) and among girls with mothers relationship ( p=0.007) siblings ( relationship with sister ( p=0.000) and relationship with brothers ( p=0.000), parents support for extra curricular activities ( p=0.003), number of siblings ( p= 0.034), frequency of attending tution classes ( p=0.0003) and parents satisfaction on school performance ( p=0.002). The important problems among adolescents in flats identified by the study were mainly family related factors and academic factors. It is recommended to improve relationship between adolescents and their family members by a availability of permanent counseling service at Soysapura Flats.