Detección oportuna de riesgos conductuales en estudiantes de nivel medio superior en la Ciudad de México

Abstract

Objective: To assess the risk of behavioral problems in adolescent students in Mexico City. Methods: analytical cross-sectional study, 432 adolescents from the College of Sciences and Humanities (CCH) participated, where the posit instrument (Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers) was applied, which measures the risk of behavioral problems in adolescents through seven dimensions: drug use/abuse, mental health, family and friends’ relationships, level of education, job interest, and aggressive-delinquent behaviors. Student's t-Test was used to assess whether there were differences between males and females (by dimension).

Results: 55.9% of the 432 students were female, 42.3% were studying the second semester, 34.6% the fourth semester, and 23.1% the sixth semester. When the dimensions were analyzed according to gender, statistically significant differences were found in favor of women in the mental health area (p= 0.022). In the case of men, there were two areas: relationships with friends (p= 0.001), and job interest (p= 0.0000).

Conclusions: some of the most affected areas were mental health, relationships with friends, and job interest in the studied group; however, aspects such as family, and those related to aggressive/delinquent behaviors continue to be important triggers for risk behaviors.