Relevant Factors in Adolescent Well-Being: Family and Parental Relationships

Health-related quality of life, teachers’ opinion of academic performance and self-perceived health are indicators of well-being in the adolescent stage. Some variables, such as those related to the quality of family and parental relationships, may influence these indicators and thus condition well-being during this stage of life and beyond. In this research, the aforementioned variables are analyzed jointly. It is a cross-sectional study in which 1375 adolescent schoolchildren between 11 and 18 years of age participated. Different instruments such as KIDSCREEN-10 and the questionnaire used in the international study Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children were used. The results obtained allow us to conclude that HRQoL, the teacher’s opinion of performance and the perception of health status improve as adolescents perceive a more favorable family climate, also helped by good relations between parents. Finally, it is proposed to continue with the efforts made in the school, family environment and other areas because of the enormous potential for generating quality of life in the adolescent stage and the consequent positive repercussions this has on adulthood.

Psychopathological Risk Factors Associated with Body Image, Body Dissatisfaction and Weight-Loss Dieting in School-Age Adolescents

Determining the comorbidity patterns leading to suffering behavioural eating disorders (BED) that are identifiable in the early stages of life, can help prevent their becoming chronic, as well as preventing the consequences deriving from the cost and effectiveness of intervention programs. The paper focuses mainly on analysing the association between behavioural/emotional risk factors and body image, body satisfaction and diet in school children, as well as confirming whether there are differences based on sex. Several questionnaires (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and several items of Health Behaviour in School-age Children) including these variables were distributed and completed by the 647 adolescents (16 year olds on average) who took part in the research project. The findings confirmed a differentiated risk profile in adolescent girls in that they had greater prevalence of emotional symptoms as a general psychopathological trait, although this was offset with their prosocial behaviour. Additionally, the findings also allowed us to conclude that the factors that predict vulnerability to BEDs are sex, the presence of emotional symptoms and social and behavioural issues. At the end of this paper, we discuss some implications and consequences that should be taken into account for future work.

The Quality of Breakfast and Healthy Diet in School-aged Adolescents and Their Association with BMI, Weight Loss Diets and the Practice of Physical Activity

Dietary habits are an important factor in the protection of adolescent health. The quality and frequency of breakfast and the various food groups can affect the wellbeing of this population group in both the short and long term. Research indicates that there is a range of relevant variables in the study of diet at this stage: following a weight loss diet, body mass index and the practice of physical exercise, amongst others. In this paper, all three variables are analysed, together with others of a demographic nature (sex and age). This is a descriptive cross-sectional survey that was carried out on 1318 adolescents aged 11 to 18. The Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) international study questionnaire, sponsored by the World Health Organisation, was used. In general terms, the data revealed that the majority of adolescents do not have adequate eating patterns. The quality and frequency of breakfast and the consumption of food types are associated with almost all the variables under study; additionally, there are significant differences by sex and school year. Finally, proposals are made to prevent eating disorders, which are appearing at an increasingly young age.

Horas de pantalla y actividad física de los estudiantes de Educación Secundaria

El uso de las nuevas tecnologías en el tiempo libre es cada vez más frecuente entre la población adolescente. Este hábito puede tener como consecuencia una disminución de la actividad física diaria, generando así problemas de salud como el sobrepeso y la obesidad. Esta investigación pretende estudiar las horas diarias de pantalla durante el tiempo libre de 1.264 estudiantes de 1º y 4º de Educación Secundaria y comprobar si éstas se relacionan con la actividad física que practican; además se plantea conocer si existen diferencias significativas en las horas diarias de pantalla según el sexo y el curso escolar de los encuestados. Los resultados muestran que un 47.7% de los adolescentes encuestados pasan 5 horas o más al día ante la pantalla ya sea televisión, videojuegos o usando el ordenador; y además se trata de un hábito más frecuente en el alumnado de 4º de ESO. No se encontraron diferencias significativas según el sexo, en cambio sí las hay según el curso escolar pasando más tiempo ante la pantalla los alumnos de 4º de ESO que los alumnos de 1º de ESO. Por otro lado, la falta de relación entre las horas de pantalla y la práctica de actividad física confirma lo encontrado en otros estudios internacionales: ambas actividades son compatibles porque se producirían en distintos momentos del día.