A Study on Mental Health of Middle School Students in a City
Authors: Lee Chung Sook , Choi Bong Sil 
Published: November 2024

This descriptive survey study was designed to assess the level of mental health in middle school students in Gwangju city.The Youth Self~Report(Oh, Lee. Hong, Ha.1997) was used to assess middle school students' mental health.The results were as follows：1. In the distribution of normal/clinical group by total problem score of middle school students, normal group was 663(77.7%) and clinical group was 190(22.3%) among 855 students. Among 190 students of clinical group, male students were 83(9.7%) and female ones were 107(12.5%). This shows that the rate of the clinical group of girl students was higher than that of boy students.2. In total behavioral problem score of both groups by middle school students' sex, the score of boy students was 48.1 and that of girl students were 52. l(t = 2.467, p = .014). That means the total behavior problem score of girl students was significantly higher compared with boy students.3. The variables which showed significant difference in behavior problem syndromes by middie school students' sex were withdrawal (t = 2.068, p = .003). somatic symptoms(t=4.637.p = .000), depression/anxiety(t=4.637, p = ,000).attention getting problems(t = 3.252，p = .001).delinquency(t=2.201, p = .028). And the probability of problem behavior of girl students in withdrawal. somatic symptoms, depression/ anxiety, attention getting problems was higher than that of boy students. That the probability of problem behavior of boy students was higher than that of girl students was in delinquency area.4. The total behavioral problem scores by general characteristics of middle school students are as follows-(1) In demographic characteristics, the variable which is significantly different from total behavioral problem score in whole area was sex(t = 5.89, p = .O15). And the total behavioral problem score of girl students(52.0) was higher than that of boy students.(2) In home-related characteristics, the variables which are significantly different from total behavioral problem sc이e in whole area were marital state of parents(t = 4.95. p = .002), parents' job(t = 6.07, p = .000), home atmosphere (t= 15.73, p= .000), communication with father (t = 25.68, p = .000), communication with mother (t= 16.76, p = .000). In other words, the students whose total behavioral problem score showed high were the ones whose parents were divorced or remarried(63.8 score), whose mother only had job(61.2), whose home atmosphere was discorded(69.0), and whose communication with parents was never done(69.0. 79.2).(3) In school-related characteristics, the variables which are significantly different from total behavioral problem score in whole area were school record (t = 9.53, p = .000). school life(t = 51.74. p = .000), relationship with friends (t = 23.55. p = .000), the opposite sex friend (t = 11.56, p = .000), experience of school violence injury(t = 91.81, p = .000). The students whose total behavioral problem score showed high were the ones whose school record was low(56.1), whose school life was very dissatisfying(73.4), whose relationship with friends was unpleasant(73.6), who had friends of the opposite sex(57.6), and who had the experience of school violence iryury(66.4).(4) In the other characteristics, the variables which are significantly different from total behavioral problem score in whole area were smoking status(t=28.76, p = .016), drinking status(t = 35.47. p= .000), use of counseling room(t= 13.95, p = .000), and counseling care (t = 31.78, p = .000).The above research results showed the actual state of emotional/behavioral problems of middle school students. And it was found that this study result will be significant in that it can provide basic data for the school mental health services, which can promote the students' mental health who belong to clinical group, find out early and prevent serious problem activities.