Parental loss and problem behaviour in Greek adolescents: student and teacher perspectives

The aim of this study was to examine the hypothesis that social attitudes may result in teachers overestimating behavioural problems of adolescents from separated families. A total of 833 secondary school students in the Greek region of Thrace were classified in three groups according to their family situation (intact, parental separation, parental death). Their psychological and behavioural functioning was assessed in two ways: (a) by themselves using the Youth Self Report (YSR), (b) by their teachers with the Questionnaire on Symptoms of Problem Behaviour (QSPB). Students from separated families presented higher scores in both YSR and QSPB tests. Results indicated that students with a similar self-assessment (YSR) scores, were rated differently by their teachers. The ones belonging to separated families were estimated to be more inhibited-neurotic and immature. On the contrary, the orphan students were judged favourably concerning anti-social behaviour. Prejudice against divorce and separation as a possible explanation for this discrepancy and its impact on the students is discussed.