Internalizing and externalizing symptoms and social problem-solving difficulties in adolescents in residential care

Abstract Background Adolescents in residential care frequently present mental health and psychosocial adjustment difficulties. However, research specifically comparing adolescents with and without a history of maltreatment in this context remains scarce. The present study aimed to analyze emotional and behavioral problems and difficulties in social problem-solving among adolescents in residential care, as well as to examine, in those with a history of maltreatment, their association with the sociocognitive processes involved. Methods This observational cross-sectional study included 84 adolescents in residential care, aged 12 to 17 years, divided into a group with a history of maltreatment (n = 59) and a group without a history of maltreatment (n = 25). The instruments used were the Child and Adolescent Assessment System (SENA) and the Social Cognitive Attitudes and Strategies Questionnaire (AECS). Group differences were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test. In the maltreatment group, partial Spearman correlations and linear regression analyses were performed, controlling for sex and age. The Benjamini–Hochberg procedure was applied to adjust p values for multiple comparisons. Results Adolescents with a history of maltreatment showed a profile of greater emotional and behavioral impairment, with higher scores in anxiety, posttraumatic symptomatology, attention problems, and global behavioral problems (all adjusted p = 0.041). In this group, greater emotional and behavioral symptomatology was associated with greater difficulties in obtaining information, generating alternatives, anticipating consequences, and selecting appropriate means in social situations. In addition, the interaction between both dimensions was associated with poorer performance in social problem-solving, explaining between 11% and 24% of the variance across domains (adjusted p = 0.008–0.013). Conclusions These findings provide a better understanding of the psychological vulnerability and sociocognitive functioning of adolescents in residential care with a history of maltreatment. They also reinforce the need for specific interventions that integrate the management of emotional and behavioral distress with training in social problem-solving.