[Factors underlying psycho-social problems].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate personal and family variables involved in the appearance of psychosocial problems (PSP) and the role of stressful life events (SLE) and Social Network and Support in its genesis; and to construct a profile of a PSP patient.


METHODS
Transversal, descriptive study.


METHODS
Almanjayar Health Centre, Granada, Spain.


METHODS
Three hundred fourteen patients over 18 selected by systematic sampling in on-demand consultation.


METHODS
Every patient had an interview, filling in the GHQ-28 (with scores>or=8 considered indicative of PSP), the family Apgar test (Family Function study), the Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Scale (SLE in the last year), the DUKE-UNC questionnaire (Social Support), and Social Network (number of people). The Structure and Stage of the Family Life Cycle, social-economic and cultural level, work and income were also determined. A descriptive analysis of each variable and its association with the GHQ-28 through the chi2 test were also conducted. To find what categories were associated independently with high scores on the GHQ, a multivariate analysis was carried out.


RESULTS
Categories of age (between 30 and 59 years old), gender (being a woman) and social-economic level (unskilled workers) entail greatest risk of PSP. Similarly, single-parent families, perception of family dysfunction, high levels of stress (OR=3.02; 95% CI, 1.76-5.18), and low social support affect PSP.


CONCLUSIONS
The profile of a PSP patient in our setting is of a middle-aged woman forming part of a single-parent and/or dysfunctional family, who has suffered major SLEs and has insufficient social support.
de la Revilla
Luis
L
Fundación para el Estudio de la Atención a la Familia, Programa de Atención Familiar en la Unidad Docente de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, Granada, Spain.
de los Ríos Alvarez
Ana María
AM
de Dios Luna del Castillo
Juan
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011584:Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires