Abstract

BRITO, Maria Fernanda Santos Figueiredo et al. Prevalence of depressive symptoms among adolescent students in a municipality in the North of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Revista Portuguesa de Enfermagem de Saúde Mental [online]. 2020, n.24, pp.17-24. ISSN 1647-2160.  https://doi.org/10.19131/rpesm.0277.

BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms can manifest in different age groups. However, among adolescent students, the frequency is high and this problem can result in several repercussions on the adolescent. AIM: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among school adolescents in a municipality in the North of Minas Gerais (MG) - Brazil. METHODS: This is a school-based epidemiological study, with a cross-sectional, analytical and quantitative approach. The population was composed of high school adolescents from state public schools. Structured questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory were applied. The variables were described by means of absolute frequency and percentage. The association between variables and depressive symptoms was assessed using the chi-square test (significance level p≤0.05). RESULTS: Among the 819 participants, 166 (20.2%) were classified as suffering from depressive symptoms. Associations of these symptoms were observed in females (p=0.001), age group of 18 years or older (p=0.023) and night shift study (p=0.034). CONCLUSION: There was a considerable prevalence of depressive symptoms among adolescents, with a worrying situation among those women, who study at night and are 18 years or older. Provisions for the early identification of these symptoms, preventive strategies and health promotion are imperative.

Keywords : Adolescent; Adolescent health; Mental health; Depression.

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