Prevalência do sofrimento mental em adolescentes que convivem com familiares alcoolistas

Abstract

The alcohol and other drugs consumption is an ancient practice, observed among many social organizations in the world. In recent years, there have been changes in social behavior that are reflected in increased consumption of these substances. In this study, emphasis was given to the consumption of alcohol. In Brazil, alcoholism has been a public health problem that has emerged due to growth rates of mortality and morbidity associated with alcohol abuse. This drug may offer the user multiple losses, jeopardizing their health, career, financial and social life as well their family relationships. Living with an alcoholic can result in a commitment on the part of individual family members. It was evidenced in this research, the mental health of adolescents living with an alcoholic family, because studies have shown that individuals in this age group have shown some weaknesses, including mental suffering. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize adolescents and their families social and demographic, and to estimate the prevalence of psychological distress in adolescents who live with alcoholic family, to know the functioning of families about the risk factors for mental illness and analyze the association between the study variables and psychological distress in adolescents. This is a population-based cross-sectional study conducted in João Pessoa, Brazil, with a adolescent population of enrolled in 39 state schools in the public network in the city, and included a representative sample of the population, totaling 715 adolescents investigated. Data collection was conducted from July to October 2011, using a list of questions and three instruments validated in Brazil. The variables examined were grouped to make statistical analysis to study the prevalence ratio and applying the association test, chi-square (X2). Among the results, was observed that 33.9% of adolescents lived with relatives who are alcoholics and 29.5% of this total had psychological distress. Among these, those who live with alcoholic family represented 40.1% and, according to the prevalence ratio, 1.7 to each adolescent who live with alcoholic family members have little mental illnesses. Another important result refers to the family profile of risk group: the majority of parents had low education, large families, stepfamilies, without defined leadership and low per capita income. In reference to family functioning, families were classified as functional and medium risk for mental illness. From the results, it was found that the presence of an alcoholic in the home jeopardizes its functioning and may result in negative effect that compromises the adolescent mental health. But when this condition is identified at this stage, enables professionals to perform actions that include youth, family and community as a way to expand networks of support for prevention of psychological distress of the individual, caused by alcoholism in the family.