Protecting young minds: insights on pre-adolescents' mental health from a school-based study in Argentina

Child Protection and Practice Pub Date : 2025-08-28 DOI:10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100227

Perla Kaliman , María Jesús Álvarez-López , Marina Lisenberg , María Agustina Acosta , Denise Agostina Simkin , Rocío Martínez-Vivot

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Abstract

Background

Childhood and adolescent mental health is in crisis globally, emphasizing the need for early detection and prevention strategies. Children from marginalized neighborhoods are particularly vulnerable, yet data on their psychological well-being is still limited in Argentina.

Objectives

We aimed to explore mental health characteristics of vulnerable school children and assess the feasibility of a psychological well-being promoting program.

Participants and setting

This study was conducted in a primary school in a disadvantaged neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, involving 35 children aged 11.

Methods

Participants completed validated Spanish versions of scales assessing perceived stress (PSS-14), PTSD symptoms (CPSS), empathy, mindfulness (MAAS-A), and self-compassion (SCS-SF). Sex differences and correlations between scales were explored.

Findings

Significant sex disparities were found in perceived stress, with girls reporting higher scores (p = 0.002). PTSD symptoms were alarmingly high, with 74 % of participants exceeding the clinical cut-off of 16 (girls: mean = 27.48, SD = 9.45; boys: mean = 17.36, SD = 12.76; p = 0.017). Boys scored higher in self-compassion (p = 0.003). Positive correlations were found between stress and PTSD symptoms (r = 0.597, p < 0.001) and between mindfulness and self-compassion (r = 0.439, p = 0.008). Both dispositional mindfulness and self-compassion negatively correlated with perceived stress (r = −0.526, p = 0.001; r = −0.595, p < 0.001, respectively) and PTSD symptoms (r = −0.616, p < 0.001; r = −0.561, p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Our study highlights the significant vulnerability of this population, emphasizing the urgency for early detection and gender- and trauma-sensitive prevention efforts. Notably, our findings suggest that mindfulness and self-compassion training may be key protective components within mental health-promoting interventions for preadolescents.

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保护青少年心灵：阿根廷一项校本研究对青少年前心理健康的见解

儿童和青少年心理健康在全球范围内都处于危机之中，这强调了早期发现和预防战略的必要性。来自边缘社区的儿童尤其脆弱，但在阿根廷，关于他们心理健康状况的数据仍然有限。目的探讨弱势学龄儿童的心理健康特征，评估心理健康促进方案的可行性。本研究在阿根廷布宜诺斯艾利斯一个贫困社区的一所小学进行，涉及35名11岁的儿童。方法被试完成了有效的西班牙语版压力感知量表（PSS-14）、PTSD症状量表（CPSS）、共情、正念量表（MAAS-A）和自我同情量表（SCS-SF）。探讨了性别差异和量表之间的相关性。在感知压力方面发现了显著的性别差异，女孩报告的分数更高（p = 0.002）。PTSD症状高得惊人，74%的参与者超过了16的临床临界值（女孩：平均= 27.48,SD = 9.45；男孩：平均= 17.36,SD = 12.76; p = 0.017）。男孩的自我同情得分更高（p = 0.003）。压力与PTSD症状呈正相关（r = 0.597, p < 0.001），正念与自我同情呈正相关（r = 0.439, p = 0.008）。性格正念和自我同情与感知压力（r = - 0.526, p = 0.001; r = - 0.595, p < 0.001）和创伤后应激障碍症状（r = - 0.616, p < 0.001; r = - 0.561, p < 0.001）呈负相关。结论我们的研究突出了这一人群的显著脆弱性，强调了早期发现和性别和创伤敏感预防工作的紧迫性。值得注意的是，我们的研究结果表明，正念和自我同情训练可能是青春期前心理健康促进干预措施中的关键保护成分。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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Child Protection and Practice

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