Análise do perfil depressivo em estudantes adolescentes da rede municipal de Lagarto/SE

Abstract

In today's world, where there is intense competition and pressure, depression is recognized as a serious public health problem that can affect many people, including school-age youth. The objective of this research is to analyze the prevalence of depression in different groups of school-age youth, considering variables such as gender, color/race, religion, satisfaction with school and friendship. Identifying patterns among these groups is essential for developing appropriate interventions aimed at promoting mental health. The research was conducted using a questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Regarding the classification of depression by the BDI, in total, 43.32% of the participants presented minimal or no depression, the majority of whom were male. However, when it comes to severe levels of depression, girls stood out with twice as many cases compared to boys: 20.67% of girls presented severe depression, while among boys, the percentage is 9.29%. Regarding liking school, the data showed an association with better mental health, with a higher prevalence of minimal or no depression. Another variable analyzed about having friends shows that it is associated with lower levels of depression and a more balanced distribution of symptoms. The results demonstrated a significant variation in levels of depression between the groups analyzed and emphasize the complexity of mental health and the need for diverse approaches to dealing with depression in different social and cultural contexts.