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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Christelle Roustit, MD MPH and Pierre Chauvin, MD PhD. Research team on the social determinants of health and healthcare (UMR-S 707), Inserm, 27 rue de Chaligny, Paris, F-75012, France, 33144738460, roustit@u707.jussieu.fr

Introduction: Promoting adolescent health is a major public health issue worldwide. Adolescents integrate into their surroundings by enlisting creative potential that enables them to cope with the relational and psychosocial circumstances of their lives. The enlistment of that potential is contingent upon a number of personal, relational and social factors. The aim of our research was to study: (1) the life-course experiences during childhood associated with psychosocial maladjustement and (2) the personal, family-related and social characteristics associated with psychosocial adjustment in adolescence. Method: The study was based on a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 1779 youths aged 13-16 years and their parents, living in Québec State, Canada, in 1999. Psychosocial maladjustment was defined by the presence of psychological distress and/or behavioral disorders. The studied life-course experiences (1) were: family ruptures, poverty, chronic illness, and immigration/being a member of ethnic minorities. Logistic regression models were performed with psychosocial maladjustment as the outcome variable. Results: Among the 4 above mentioned experiences, only family ruptures – parental separation, single-mother families, and/or parent's death - were highly associated with psychosocial maladjustment. The multiple logistic regression model adjusted on age and family ruptures indicates that self-esteem and school perceived atmosphere, parental concern for their child and parental control, and family food security and social support for the child and his/her family were all significantly associated with psychosocial adjustment. Conclusion: Public health interventions promoting wellness in adolescents have to emphasize a family and social support approach, especially among those who experienced family ruptures.

Learning Objectives:

• To learn about the concept of psychosocial adjustment, as an issue in adolescent mental health
• To learn which SES characteristics are associated with maladjustment in a State where a high level of welfare policy is achieved
• To learn which psychosoial characteristics, in particular in term of family and social support, are associated with psychosocial adjustment

Keywords: Adolescents, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered