Profiles of academic helplessness and associations with emotional and behavioural problems in South Korean high school students: a latent profile analysis

South Korea's hyper-competitive, exam-centric education system frequently exposes adolescents to high-level academic stress. Such environments are often associated with academic helplessness, linked to negative emotional states and maladaptive behaviours. This study aimed to classify levels of academic helplessness among Korean high school students and examine the associations between these classifications and emotional and behavioural problems. Data were drawn from the fifth wave (2022) of the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey 2018, including 2231 high school students. Latent profile analysis identified patterns of academic helplessness, and covariance analysis assessed group differences in emotional and behavioural problems, including attention deficit, aggression, somatization, social withdrawal, and depression. Three classes emerged: low (20.8%), moderate (60.0%), and high (19.2%). Higher academic helplessness in adolescents was linked with significantly greater attention deficit, aggression, and depression. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions addressing both academic challenges and adolescents' psychological well-being.