Substance use and associated emotional and behavioral problems in Nepalese adolescents

ABSTRACT

Background: Research has demonstrated that problem behavior has been associated with substance use, but knowledge is lacking on such associations in a low-income country like Nepal. Aims: This study aimed to find associations between emotional and behavioral problems and substance use among Nepalese adolescents. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the end of 2011, with participants from three schools in the Province 4 of Nepal. We selected 408 adolescents aged 12 to 18 (mean 15.2 years, 54% boys) at one urban and two rural schools. The data were collected using the Youth Self-Report and Adolescents’ Substance Use Measurement. Results: Higher scores on withdrawn/depressed symptoms, thought problems, attention problems, delinquent or aggressive behavior or internalizing or externalizing problems were associated with the use of tobacco, alcohol or other substances. In the broadband scales, only internalizing problems predicted the use of intoxicants. Higher scores for attention problems predicted the use of tobacco, any intoxicants, and high-risk user. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that problem behavior among Nepalese adolescents was associated with substance use. Future studies should explore the association between problem behavior and substance use, including causal factors, so that risky behavior among Nepalese adolescents can be prevented.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescents
• emotional problems
• behavioral problems
• substance use
• Nepal

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest and are solely responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Ethical approval

We received ethical approval for this study from the Research Ethics Committee of the Hospital District of Northern Savo (18.04.201, 28/2011) and the Nepal Health Research Council (05.09.2011, 80/2011) for this study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Finnish Foundation for Alcohol Studies, Finland;Ministry of Social Affairs and Health - provided by Kuopio Social Health Care Services, Finland;Kuopio University Foundation, University of Eastern Finland;