Common mental disorders in adolescents: a population based cross-sectional study.
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.
Pinheiro
Karen Amaral Tavares
KA
Master's Program in Health and Behavior, Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. karenap@terra.com.br
Horta
Bernardo Lessa
BL
Pinheiro
Ricardo Tavares
RT
Horta
Lúcia Lessa
LL
Terres
Nicole Gomes
NG
Silva
Ricardo Azevedo da
RA
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