Citation

de Carvalho PD, de Barros MVG, Santos CM, Melo EN, de Oliveira NKR, Lima RA. Rev. Bras. Saude Mater. Infant. 2011; 11(3): 227-238.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Instituto Materno Infantil de Pernambuco)

DOI

10.1590/s1519-38292011000300003

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: to identify the prevalence of and factors associated with negative mental health indicators among adolescents.

METHODS: a previously validated questionnaire was used to gather data on 4,207 adolescents (aged between 14 and 19 years) attending high school, selected by way of conglomerate sampling in two stages.

RESULTS: the prevalence of sadness, feelings of loneliness, thoughts of suicide, difficulty sleeping because of anxiety, and plans to commit suicide was 29.7%, 15.8%, 11.2%, 10.0% and 7.8% respectively. The prevalence for all indicators was higher among girls, with sadness being the most prevalent indicator. It was identified that skin-color was not a factor associated with the occurrence of negative mental health indicators, while not living with parents showed a significant degree of association with feeling of loneliness and thoughts of suicide.

CONCLUSIONS: the prevalence of feelings of loneliness and sadness is high and girls are a subgroup that is more vulnerable to all the negative mental health indicators.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent; Suicide; Mental health; Loneliness; Health behavior