{
  "abstract": "Adolescence is a turbulent period of rapid biopsychosocial changes that help transition to adulthood. Adolescence maladjustment shows sex-specific vulnerability such that internalizing pathologies are linked with depression-anxiety in females, whereas externalizing problems linked are with substance abuse and conduct disorders in males. Developing countries with patriarchal societies produce early gender-inequity that might impact physical health, family, and social environments of adolescents impacting adulthood. The link between sex-differences in physical health, social support (school & family) and adolescent problems in non-western context is unclear. Hence, adolescents from 19 schools (N = 5121, male = 48%, female = 39%, missing = 13%) filled Indian Adolescent Health Questionnaire to measure physical health, family, and social environment, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used for adjustment problems (internalizing-externalizing). Males reported better physical health and nutrition whereas females had better attitude towards safety, substance use, and academics. Physical health, family, school and social environment were correlated (p = .00), t-test showed sex-differences in all subdomains except hygiene and family environment. For adjustment problems, 22.8% of school students experienced borderline problems and 16% were categorized highly problematic, male students had higher maladjustment problems. Contrary to the West, internalizing problems showed no sex-differences, but male students’ internalizing problems were due to peers. Partial correlation controlling sex and class showed that family support negatively correlated with emotion problems (r = - .05, p < .05), hygiene attitude positively correlated with hyperactivity problems (r = .033, p < .05). School intervention involving families might shield adolescents from mental health problems, targeting sex-specific risks such as nutrition and physical activity for females or drugs and safety for males might improve health. Using standard health measures might allow follow-ups for comparing health gender-gap across the developmental phases of individuals accounting for urban-rural divide accentuated in developing countries and diverse population.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India",
    "Department of Management Studies, Vishwakarma Bhavan, Saheed Jeet Singh Marg, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Varsha Singh"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Harish Chaudhury"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Mahim Sagar"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c1exss8zqrb33.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pmen.0000708",
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  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
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      "openalex",
      "3203|Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development"
    ],
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      "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Emotions"
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      "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Social psychology/Social cognition/Prosocial behavior"
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      "/People and places/Population groupings/Families/Children/Adolescents"
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      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Behavior/Prosocial behavior"
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    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Cognitive psychology/Social cognition/Prosocial behavior"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Emotions"
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      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Psychological attitudes"
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      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Social psychology/Social cognition/Prosocial behavior"
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      "/Social sciences/Sociology/Education/Schools"
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  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/mentalhealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pmen.0000708&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-11",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c1exss8zqrb33.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:56Z",
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  "subjects": [
    {
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      "origin": "plos:nutrition",
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      "origin": "plos:mental health and psychiatry",
      "subfield": "psychiatry"
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  "title": "Association between physical and mental health in school-going adolescents: Sex-specific patterns of maladjustment in formative years of life",
  "title_text": "Association between physical and mental health in school-going adolescents: Sex-specific patterns of maladjustment in formative years of life",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:56Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c1exss8zqrb33",
  "venue": "PLOS Mental Health",
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}