The investigation of internalizing and externalizing problems of secondary school students with symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity according to some socio-demographic variables

Genetic effects, family dynamics and cognitive abilities and distortions are the basis of maladaptive behaviours of children and adolescents. Additionally, socio-economic and socio-cultural factors and domestic relations have importance on the occurance of these behaviours. They are categorised by Thomas Achenbach as three psychological disturbances; attention problems, internal problems and external problems. Although there are variousstudies comparing attention problems and internal problems, external problems and risky behaviours among adolescents in Turkey, there are not enough research on middle school students.The importance of the present study was to investigate the relations of efficiency (efficacy, academic achievements, social efficiency), external problems and internal problems and the comparison to some risky behaviors of students with attention and hyperactive problems. This study was conducted among 8th grade students from ten basic study agencies belonging to Ministy of Education in Burhaniye district of Balıkesir. Youth Self Report for Ages 11-18 and personal data form which was developed by the researcherand was conducted in 428 samples and 350 samples were evaluated. Among the research sample, 11.1% (n=39) is consisted of the adolescents with attention deficit sypmtoms, and 11.4% (n=40) of samples is with hyperactivity symptoms. Sociodemographical factors, gender, social efficiency, internalizing and externalizing problems, level of academic achievements have no significant correlation with symptoms of ADHD. Additionally, it was found that there is significant variation between sub-scales. It is concluded that there is a meaningful relation between the level of adolescents getting along with their families and internalizing scale. It is found out that the rate of female students' internalizing problem is higher than male students as well as male students' oppositional defiant rate is higher compared to the female students. The more level of income increases, the higher academic success is achieved. It is concluded from this research that ADHD symptoms do not have discriminatingcharacteristics on internalizing and externalizing problems; what is more, it does not change according to socio-demographic, social competence and academic success. However, parents' attitudes affect children's emotional and behavioural process. Therefore, psychological counselling and psychotherapy support for parents living in small residential areas can be increased.