The Common Form of Internalizing Problem in Adolescence

What is the most common form of internalizing problem in adolescence?

a. depressive disorder.
b. depressed mood.
c. anorexia nervosa.
d. claustrophobia.

Option (a)

The most common form of internalizing problem in adolescence is depressive disorder.

Depressive disorder, which includes major depressive disorder and dysthymia, is the most common form of internalizing problem in adolescence. Research has found that approximately 15-20% of adolescents experience some form of depression during this stage of development. Depressive disorder is characterized by symptoms such as a persistent depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fatigue, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns. While depressed mood is a symptom of depressive disorder, it is not considered a separate disorder. Anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder characterized by a distorted body image and an intense fear of gaining weight, and claustrophobia, a fear of enclosed spaces, are not typically considered internalizing problems in adolescence.