Preditores de dificuldades emocionais e comportamentais na adolescência: um estudo longitudinal

Abstract

Mental disorders in childhood and adolescence have received greater attention over the last few decades due to their early and persistent presentation, and many will continue to present mental health problems (PSM) in adulthood, generating impactful short and long time negative consequences on the functioning of these individuals with disabilities heavy family, social, economic and public health. Scientific evidence shows that between 10% and 20% of children will have some disorder or PSM throughout their life cycle. Therefore, the objective of this research was to investigate predictors of emotional and behavioral difficulties in a community sample of adolescents from São Leopoldo/RS. This is a secondary analysis of a randomized field trial with children recruited at birth at Hospital Centenário between October 2001 and July 2002 and who were followed from then until age 13 years old. For this study, a longitudinal analysis was performed (2001 to 2014) based on data collected at birth in the medical record and on subsequent household collections when children were aged 6 months, 12-16 months, 4 years, 8 years and 13 years. Sociodemographic, maternal and perinatal variables were obtained at 6 months and 12-16 months, anthropometric variables and screen time at 4 and 8 years and at 13 years, 174 adolescents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to assess the outcome. The results of child weight, age and low maternal schooling and low socioeconomic conditions were predictors of the outcome, which reinforces the importance of multidisciplinary actions for prevention and early intervention in children's mental health.