Full text
| |
| Author(s): |
Lilian Cardoso de Souza Zinn
Total Authors: 1
|
| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP/CIR) |
| Defense date: | 2006-11-27 |
| Examining board members: |
Frida Marina Fischer;
Alberto Olavo Advíncula Reis;
Maria Cristina Triguero Veloz Teixeira
|
| Advisor: | Frida Marina Fischer |
| Abstract | |
Introduction - Depression and low self-esteem in the adolescence have become issues of increasing concern for teachers, clinicians, and adolescent medicine (ephebiatrics) physicians, as their understanding grows over time. Objective - To investigate the factors associated with depression and low self-esteem in students aged 14-18 years of a public high school in São Paulo city, Brazil. Methods - Previous study performed in 2001 by Fischer et al (2003 a) in a public school did not discuss specially depression and self-esteem in the students. The database resulting from questionnaires on lifestyle, health, and work condition was reexamined focusing the factors associated to depression and low self-esteem. Depression and self-esteem were evaluated through Spitzer (1999) scales and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results - The overall depression prevalence rate was 7.5% in the studied population and the rates according to gender were 10.3% (39/379) among females and 4.3% (15/345) among males. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that factors associated with depressive disorders were: poor self-perception of health (odds ratio - OR = 5.78), being female (OR = 2.45), and alcohol consumption (OR=2.35). High prevalence of low self-esteem has been observed: an overall rate of 38.7% and rates of 34.8% among males and 42.2% among females. Factors associated with low self-esteem were: family problems (OR=1.49); problems at school (OR=1.53); smoking (OR=1.72); alcohol consumption (OR=1.40); difficulty to concentrate at school, sometimes (OR= 1.91) or always (OR= 3.17); lack of physical activity (OR= 1.61); financial problems, some (OR= 1.56) or a lot of (OR= 1.47). Conclusions -Depression and low self-esteem prevalence rates found in this study are consistent with the literature. This cross-sectional school-based study has examined data on sociodemographic, health school, and work conditions of high school students. Associated factors with depression include poor self-perception of health being female, and alcohol consumption. Factors associated with low self-esteem were family problems, problems at school, smoking, alcohol consumption, difficulty to concentrate at school, lack of physical activities, and financial problems. Better understanding of these factors will help in providing both familial and school-based interventions. These findings suggest that it is important to count on mental health professionals in high schools to conduct screenings able to early recognize mental problems and to provide counseling for students, as well as for their parents and teachers. Longitudinal studies would provide a basis to determine causal-effect associations to depression and other mental health disturbances, as well as the opportunity to perform effective interventions among this youth population. (AU) | |