THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERNALIZING PROBLEMS, GENDER AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF BOTH PARENTS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

The current study aimed to analyse the differences in the internalising problems
including anxious/depressed, withdrawn-depressed and somatic complaints, from the
perspective of parents and high school students. Considering varying levels of academic
achievement. Additionally, the gender differences in the level of internalising problems
will also be examined. Finally, we analysed the different perspectives of parents and
high school students according to internalising problems. The Achenbach System of
Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) was used for data collection in Macao. The
sample consisted of 698 high school students (316 males and 382 females). There were
no significant differences in internalising problems according to three levels of
academic achievement (low, average and high) from the perspective of parents and high
school students. Furthermore, from the high school students' perspectives, adolescent
females present more interesting problems than males. Finally, the findings indicate a
low agreement between parents and students concerning internalising problems. It is
suggested that parents should learn and explore different parenting styles in order to
reduce their children's internalising problems.