Association between the lived experience of intrafamily violence and common mental health disorders in adolescents

Abstract

Objective  To investigate the association of the endured /witnessed of intrafamily violence and common mental disorders (CMD) in adolescents.

Methods  This was a cross-sectional, analytical study conducted in a public school, located in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, with 230 students with ages between 10 and 19 years. The data were stored in a Microsoft Excel worksheet, and analyzes were performed using Data Analysis and Statistics Software.

Results  Students who had endured sexual violence were 11 times more likely to have a common mental disorder (CMD) (PR=11 and 95%CI=1.39-86.7), followed by those experiencing psychological violence, who were 4.8 times more likely to report a disorder (PR=4.8% and 95%CI=2.67-8.45), and those experiencing physical violence who were 2.2 times more likely (PR=4.8% and 95%CI =1.31-3.78).

Conclusion  Adolescents involved in the context of intrafamily violence, in psychological, physical, and sexual forms, are more likely to present CMD, as shown in the results.

Domestic violence; Exposure to violence; Sex offenses; Family; Mental disorders; Adolescent