Growing and learning
emotional health and quality of life in adolescents from a social project
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22633/rpge.v29i00.20748Keywords:
Depression, Quality of Life, Anxiety, Social projectAbstract
Adolescence is a period marked by physical, emotional, and social transformations that require attention to young people’s emotional health and quality of life. This study investigated the levels of anxiety, depression, and quality of life in 224 adolescents aged 12 to 19 who participated in a vocational social project in Rio de Janeiro. Using a mixed-methods approach and the MASC, AUQEI, and CDI instruments, the research revealed a high prevalence of anxiety, with 82.6% of the youth presenting moderate to very high levels. Depressive symptoms were significant, with 19.1% of the adolescents showing moderate to severe levels. Most participants (86%) perceived their quality of life as moderate, though with areas of concern related to self-image. The study points to psychological vulnerability within this population, highlighting the need for preventive interventions and mental health support in the context of the social project.
Downloads
References
Almeida, V. G. de, Nascimento Junior, J. C. M., & Cardoso, P. P. (2023). Ansiedade na infância e adolescência: Sintomas, diagnóstico e tratamento. Revista Contemporânea, 3(8). https://doi.org/10.56083/RCV3N8-094
Anderson, M. R., Scalora, S. C., Crete, A., Mistur, E. J., & Miller, L. (2024). Psychiatric comorbidities among undergraduate and graduate students attending spiritual-mind-body interventions. Journal of American College Health, 72(9), 3139–3142. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2161821
Assumpção Jr., F. B., Kuczynski, E., Sprovieri, M. H., & Aranha, E. M. G. (2000). Validade e confiabilidade de uma escala para qualidade de vida em crianças de 4 a 12 anos. Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, 58(1), 119–127. https://www.scielo.br/j/anp/a/353NxdPD78Rqpcv66q7Dc6f/abstract/?lang=pt
Brito, I. (2011). Ansiedade e depressão na adolescência. Revista Portuguesa de Clínica Geral, 27(2), 208–214. https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v27i2.10842
Carmo, A. L. do, Silva, A. P. B. da, & Troncoso, A. C. (2009). Depressão infantil: Uma realidade presente na escola. Nucleus, 6(2), 333–344. https://nucleus.feituverava.com.br/index.php/nucleus/article/view/180
Cartwright-Hatton, S., McNicol, K., & Doubleday, E. (2006). Anxiety in a neglected population: Prevalence of anxiety disorders in pre-adolescent children. Clinical Psychology Review, 26(7), 817–832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2005.12.002
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications.
Creswell, J. W., & Clark, V. L. P. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
de Lima Coutinho, M. D., Vieira Lima Pinto, A., Gomes Cavalcanti, J., Silva de Araújo, L., & de Lima Coutinho, M. (2016). Relação entre depressão e qualidade de vida de adolescentes no contexto escolar. Psicologia, Saúde e Doenças, 17(3), 338–351. http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=36249164003
Dumont, R., Lorthe, E., Richard, V., Loizeau, A., Posfay-Barbe, K. M., Barbe, R. P., et al. (2024). Future time perspectives and concerns among adolescents in 2022. BMJ Paediatrics Open, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2023-002367
Epstein, J. L. (2018). School, family, and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429494673
Flôr, S. P. C., Flôr, S. M. C., Torres, F. J. R., Silva, M. C. A., Aguiar, L. C. de, Fialho, M. L. de S., Castro, M. do S. S., Sales, P. A. A., Bento, F. V. F. S., & Lima, J. L. de. (2022). Impactos do transtorno de ansiedade em adolescentes: Uma revisão de literatura. Research, Society and Development, 11(15), e437111537344. https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i15.37344
Gomes, A. C., Rebelo, M. A. B., de Queiroz, A. C., de Queiroz Herkrath, A. P. C., Herkrath, F. J., Vieira, J. M. R., Pereira, J. V., & Vettore, M. V. (2020). Socioeconomic status, social support, oral health beliefs, psychosocial factors, health behaviours and health-related quality of life in adolescents. Quality of Life Research, 29(1), 141–151. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-019-02279-6
Gouveia, V. V., Barbosa, G. A., Almeida, H. J. F. de, & Gaião, A. de A. (1995). Inventário de depressão infantil – CDI: Estudo de adaptação com escolares de João Pessoa. Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria, 44(7).
Iovu, M. B., Hărăguș, P. T., & Roth, M. (2018). Constructing future expectations in adolescence: Relation to individual characteristics and ecological assets in family and friends. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 23(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2016.1247007
James, A. G., & Miller, B. (2017). Revisiting Mahoney’s “My body is a temple…” study: Spirituality as a mediator of the religion–health interaction among adolescents. International Journal of Children’s Spirituality, 22(2), 134–153. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364436X.2017.1301888
Jansen-van Vuuren, J., Lysaght, R., Batorowicz, B., Dawud, S., & Aldersey, H. M. (2021). Family quality of life and support: Perceptions of family members of children with disabilities in Ethiopia. Disabilities, 1(3), 233–256. https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities1030018
Khatun, R., Urme, S. A., & Islam, M. S. (2025). Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of depression and anxiety among late adolescents (15 to 21 years) in Mymensingh division, Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One, 20(4), e0320505. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320505
Kovacs, M. (1985). The Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI). Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 21(4).
Lebowitz, E. R., Omer, H., Hermes, H., & Scahill, L. (2014). Parent training for childhood anxiety disorders: The SPACE program. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 21(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2013.10.004
Lye, J. W. Y., Garces-Bacsal, R. M., & Wright, S. K. (2017). Young children’s responses to artworks: The eye, the mind, and the body. International Journal of Education & the Arts, 18(30), 1–28. http://www.ijea.org/v18n30/
Martins, C. M. dos S., & De Brito Cunha, N. (2021). Ansiedade na adolescência: O ensino médio integrado em foco. Educação Profissional e Tecnológica em Revista, 5(1), 41–62. https://doi.org/10.36524/profept.v5i1.832
Nunes, M. M. (2004). Validação e confiabilidade da escala multidimensional de ansiedade para crianças [Dissertação de Mestrado]. Universidade de São Paulo. https://repositorio.usp.br/item/001393351
Parsons, E., & Darlington, A.-S. (2021). Parents’ perspectives on conflict in paediatric healthcare: A scoping review. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 106(10), 981–986. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2020-320975
Patton, G. C., Sawyer, S. M., Santelli, J. S., Ross, D. A., Afifi, R., Allen, N. B., et al. (2016). Our future: A Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing. Lancet, 387(10036), 2423–2478. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00579-1
Perrin, K. M., & Dorman, K. A. (2003). Teen parents and academic success. Journal of School Nursing, 19(5), 288–293. https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/bvsms/resource/pt/mdl-14498777
Rask, C. U., Duholm, C. S., Poulsen, C. M., Rimvall, M. K., & Wright, K. D. (2024). Health anxiety in children and adolescents—Developmental aspects and cross-generational influences. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 65(4), 413–430. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13912
Robson, E. M., Husin, H. M., Dashti, S. G., Vijayakumar, N., Moreno-Betancur, M., Moran, P., Parron, G. C., & Sawyer, S. M. (2025). Tracking the course of depressive and anxiety symptoms across adolescence (the CATS study): A population-based cohort study in Australia. The Lancet Psychiatry, 12(1), 44–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00361-4
Rodrigues, C. D. (2023). Ansiedade na adolescência: Os impactos das redes sociais na contemporaneidade. Brazilian Journal of Health Review, 6(5), 25861–25873. https://doi.org/10.34119/bjhrv6n5-571
Sahertian, C. D. W., Sahertian, B. A., & Wajabula, A. E. (2021). Interpersonal communication within the family for improving adolescent religiosity. Hervormde Teologiese Studies, 77(4), Article a6267. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v77i4.6267
Sawyer, S. M., Afi, R. A., Bearinger, L. H., Blakemore, S.-J., Dick, B., Ezeh, A. C., & Patton, G. C. (2012). Adolescence: A foundation for future health. Lancet, 379, 1630–1670. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60072-5
Serpa, A. L. de O., Soares, T. M., & Fernandes, N. da S. (2015). School context variables as predictors of self-efficacy and anxiety of students. Avaliação Psicológica, 14(2), 189–197. https://submission-pepsic.scielo.br/index.php/avp/article/view/10090
Sweeney, D. J., Anderson, D. R., & Cam, J. D. (2013). Quantitative methods for business (12th ed.). South-Western College Publishing.
Tang, P., Pavlopoulou, G., Kostyrka-Allchorne, K., Phillips-Owen, J., & Sonuga-Barke, E. (2023). Links between mental health problems and future thinking from the perspective of adolescents with experience of depression and anxiety: A qualitative study. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00679-8
Tavares, J. M. A. D., Campos, E. O., Lopes, R. B., Moreira, R. S., Moura, F. C. de, Coqueiro, N. F. R., Lima, A. S., Caldeira, L. K., Rodrigues, N. S., & Feres, A. B. S. (2022). Fatores de risco e prevenção dos transtornos de ansiedade na adolescência: Uma revisão narrativa. Revista Eletrônica Acervo Saúde, 15(11), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.25248/reas.e11353.2022
Utami, A. Y. (2022). The role of parental involvement in student academic outcomes. Journal of Education Review Provision, 2(1), 17–21. https://doi.org/10.55885/jerp.v2i1.156
Wehry, A. M., Beesdo-Baum, K., Hennelly, M. M., Connolly, S. D., & Strawn, J. R. (2015). Assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Current Psychiatry Reports, 17(7), 51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-015-0591-z
Weiß, M., Gutzeit, J., Pryss, R., Romanos, M., Deserno, L., & Hein, G. (2024). Common and differential variables of anxiety and depression in adolescence: A nation-wide smartphone-based survey. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 18(1), 103. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00793-1
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Revista on line de Política e Gestão Educacional
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Manuscritos aceitos e publicados são de propriedade da Revista on line de Política e Gestão Educacional. É vedada a submissão integral ou parcial do manuscrito a qualquer outro periódico. A responsabilidade do conteúdo dos artigos é exclusiva dos autores. É vedada a tradução para outro idioma sem a autorização escrita do Editor ouvida a Comissão Editorial Científica.
