Risk, protective, and vulnerability factors for mental health and psychiatric disorders in adolescence - 1: The importance of coping strategies, self-esteem and self-awareness

The indicators of general risk factors for mental disorders in addition to those for self-esteem as well as protective and vulnerability factors were collected separately for boys and girls In a sample of 1110 10-17 year-old subjects of a school-based quota sample in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerlan d. The factors under study were concerned with stress that was related to l ife events, coping strategies, self-esteem, and self-awareness. Problem-avoiding behavior and increased self awareness were general risk fa ctors for both sexes. Self-esteem was a general compensating factor for bot h sexes, too. Active coping strategies presented as a protective factor in girls for internalizing disorders. Problem avoiding behavior proved to be a vulnerability factor for internalizing disorders for boys and girls. Beyon d this, it was shown that problem-avoiding behavior resulted in a greater i ncrease in externalizing disorders in boys than in girls.