Abstract

VAZQUEZ FERNANDEZ, M. E. et al. Mood of adolescents and its relation to risk behaviors and other variables. Rev Pediatr Aten Primaria [online]. 2013, vol.15, n.59, pp.e75-e84. ISSN 1139-7632.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1139-76322013000400003.

Introduction: adolescence is a stage of life where new mental abilities are developed and allow adolescents to build their own ideas and adopt different lifestyles. In this paper mood states and related factors are described. Methods: we surveyed a sample of 2,412 schoolchildren aged 13 to 18 years old in the province of Valladolid, studying 2nd, 3rd and 4th year of Secondary Education (ESO) and 1st and 2nd of High School. Six aspects of mood state were considered to be classified as positive or negative. The association between negative mood states and sociodemographic and economic factors and risk behaviors were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Results: the frequency of negative mood states was 14.9%, being higher in females 16.9% (OR: 1.63; IC 95%: 1.23-2.15; p=.001) and those studying second high school 20.7% (OR: 1.95; IC 95%: 1.29-2.97; p=.002). An association has been found between negative mental states and having different family situations, such as not living with both parents and/or brothers and not working neither the father nor the mother. This is also related to having worse grades than the average, being overwhelmed by not having Internet connection, frequently accessing to sexual content, stealing, feeling physical or psychologically mistreated, having suffered of sexual harassment or being overweight. Protective factors were having brothers or sisters, being statistically significant having two or more. Conclusions: the prevalence of mental health problems in adolescents has proved similar to what has been previously published and is lower in females. Several sociodemographic and economic variables and risk behaviors are associated with negative mood states. The assessment of these aspects at the doctor´s office can be useful for detecting adolescents at risk.

Keywords : Adolescence; Mood states; Socioeconomic factors; Risk behaviors.

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