This article approaches the adolescence in an original perspective: the feeling that the adolescent possesses on himself, the values and competence. It is a survey that investigates the self-concept and self esteem of 1.686 adolescents studying in private and public schools in a municipal district of Rio de Janeiro, São Gonçalo. It aims to know the social representation that adolescents do about themselves. As approach methodological the technique used is "theory of the central nucleus". The results indicate that the adolescents have the positive vision of themselves, conjugating the idea of happiness/good mood and satisfaction with the body, in spite of the vision that the adults and the society in general have of them. The optimist self vision of the adolescents need to be recognized and implemented in the strategies of promotion of the health, prevention and attention to the health.
Adolescence; Self-esteem; Health promotion
