title: Common mental disorders in adolescents: a population based cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence and the factors associated with common mental disorders among adolescents in Pelotas, a southern Brazilian city.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population based cross-sectional study was carried out in the urban area of Pelotas. Multi-stage sampling was used to obtain a sample of adolescents aged between 15 and 18 years. Adolescents were interviewed using a self-report confidential questionnaire. The presence of common mental disorders was assessed using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire 20 (SRQ-20). Multivariate analysis was carried out using the Poisson regression with a robust adjustment of variance and control for design effect.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine hundred and sixty adolescents were interviewed. The prevalence of common mental disorders was 28.8%. Adolescents aged 17 years showed prevalence of 1.37 (95% CI 1.06-1.78) times greater than the 15 year olds. Adolescents whose mothers had between 5 and 8 years of schooling had a prevalence 1.42 (95% CI 1.01-1.51) times greater than those whose mothers had more than 8 years of schooling. Smoking and sedentary behavior were also associated with an increased prevalence of common mental disorders. Those who were dissatisfied with their body image showed a prevalence of 1.47 (95% CI 1.07-2.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal schooling, tobacco smoking, sedentary behavior and body image dissatisfaction were factors associated with the presence of common mental disorders.
authors: Master's Program in Health and Behavior, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. karenap@terra.com.br
authors: Karen Amaral Tavares
authors: KA
authors: Pinheiro
authors: Bernardo Lessa
authors: BL
authors: Horta
authors: Ricardo Tavares
authors: RT
authors: Pinheiro
authors: Lúcia Lessa
authors: LL
authors: Horta
authors: Nicole Gomes
authors: NG
authors: Terres
authors: Ricardo Azevedo da
authors: RA
authors: Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009043:Motor Activity; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population