Sintomatología internalizante y externalizante en adolescentes con distinto estatus sociométrico

Abstract

Social relationships have an important influence on psychological well-being in early adolescence. Experimentation of acceptance or rejection by peers is associated with better or worse psychological adjustment, showed as symptoms and behaviours. The aim of this study is to analyze to what extent sociometric status is related to the presence of externalizing and / or internalizing symptoms in a sample of 859 adolescents from 1st ESO. The sociometric data were collected through the technique of nomination by their peers. Behavior problems were measured with YSR scale (Achenbach and Edelbrock, 1987). The analysis showed that externalizing problems are mainly shown by the boys and internalizing problems are shown by the girls. There are negative correlations between the index of social preference and manifestation of problems. The controversial boys showed more externalizing problems regarding the popular and averages groups. Significant differences were found in several status groups, in reference to different dimensions of the scale. The rejected and controversial children showed more problems in these dimensions. This study highlights the behaviour problems showed by adolescents and their involvement in social relationships.