Mental health conditions of Colombian adolescent population: An approach to risk

Objective

To determine the mental health conditions of adolescents in the city of Manizales, Colombia, and explore risk regarding gender-based differences.

Materials and Methods

Quantitative, nonexperimental, descriptive research with associative scope. A total of 316 adolescents were assessed using five scales to evaluate mental health conditions: the Perceived Stress Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Penn Alcohol Craving Scale and The Substance Dependence Severity Scale. Univariate and bivariate analysis was performed, Chi square and Odds Ratio were tested.

Results

The findings indicated that being female is a risk factor for high levels of perceived stress, depressive episodes and anxiety. Additionally, adolescents who are not attending school are at higher risk for dependence and abuse of psychoactive substances. Conversely, being female acts as a protective factor against dependence on psychoactive substances.

Conclusions

The findings suggest a higher tendency among the participants towards experiencing depressive episodes. Regarding perceived stress, 71.5% of the participants fell into the low category, while 70.6% experienced a current episode of generalized anxiety.