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.

The Relationship between Weight Status, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Life Satisfaction in a Sample of Spanish Adolescents.

Excess weight has been associated with numerous psychosocial problems and is considered to be one of the most important health problems of today. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between weight status, which is evaluated by means of the body mass index (BMI), and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and life satisfaction (LS) variables in Spanish adolescents, as well as to examine whether gender influences this interrelationship. A total of 1197 subjects studying in their 1st and 4th years of high school (mean age: 14.4 years, SD: 1.69) participated in the study by completing the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire. Then, the participants were grouped into the following categories: underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese. The results show that boys have significantly higher HRQoL as well as higher levels of LS. On the other hand, only the obese group shows significantly lower scores in both HRQoL and LS than those in the normal-weight group. The interaction of weight category and gender does not have a significant impact on the variables that have been analyzed (HRQoL or LS).

Pediculosis de la cabeza en escolares de Ciudad Bolívar, estado Bolívar, Venezuela / Headlice in schoolchildren from Ciudad Bolívar, Bolívar state, Venezuela

Entre abril y julio de 2013 se realizó un estudio de tipo transversal, para determinar la prevalencia de pediculosis de la cabeza en niños de 6-15 años, matriculados en cuatro escuelas de Ciudad Bolívar, estado Bolívar, Venezuela. El diagnóstico parasitológico se realizó por observación directa de huevos, ninfas y/o adultos sobre el cuero cabelludo y/o el pelo. Se llenó una ficha clínico-epidemiológica a cada participante previa firma del consentimiento informado por parte de padres o representantes. Se evaluaron 697 niños (40,3%) de los 1730 escolares matriculados, determinándose una prevalencia de 25,1% (175/697). Las niñas resultaron significativamente más infectadas (42,4%) (OR: 9,35 p<0,05). Todos los grupos de edad fueron afectados (χ² (corrección de Yates)=6,90 g.l.: 4 p>0,05) aunque predominó el grupo de 8-11 años. Los factores asociados a una mayor prevalencia de pediculosis de la cabeza fueron: el género femenino (OR: 9,35 p<0,05), haber padecido anteriormente la enfermedad (OR: 5,76 p<0,05) y tener el pelo largo (OR: 7,12 p<0,05) y sucio (OR: 2,20 p<0,05). En conclusión, aunque la prevalencia de pediculosis de la cabeza fue relativamente baja (25,1%), se verifica que esta parasitosis sigue siendo un problema médico importante en escolares de Ciudad Bolívar.

Between April and July 2013 a cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of headlice in children aged 6-15 years enrolled in four schools in Ciudad Bolívar, Bolivar State, Venezuela. The parasitological diagnosis was made by direct observation of eggs, nymphs and/ or adults on the scalp and/or hair. After signing the informed consent, we filled a clinical and epidemiologic record to each participant. 697 children (40.3%) of the 1730 school enrollment were evaluated, determining a prevalence of 25.1% (175/697). Girls were significantly more infected (42.4%) (OR: 9.35 p<0.05). All age groups were affected (χ2 (Yates correction) = 6.90 d.f.: 4 p> 0.05), but the group of 8-11 years was predominant (70.3%). Factors associated with a higher prevalence of headlice were female (OR: 9.35 p<0.05), having previously had the disease (OR: 5.76 p<0.05) and have long hair (OR: 7.12 p<0.05) and dirty (OR: 2.20 p<0.05). In conclusion, although the headlice prevalence was relatively low (25.1%), we verified that this parasitoses remains a major medical problem in schoolchildren in Ciudad Bolivar.

Diagnóstico con niños y niñas trabajadores del café en Matagalpa / Diagnosis with children and hard-working girls of the coffee in Matagalpa

Resume el estudio diagnóstico de los niños y niñas trabajadores del café en Matagalpa, Nicaragua. El estudio da a conocer la situación y deterioro de las condiciones economicas de la familia de niños y niñas en el campo. Asi como el alto nivel de analfabetismo de la familia, de niños y niñas que específicamente disminuye su desarrollo y sus aspiraciones de igual manera las posibilidades de su formación escolar y laboral, los niños y niñas comienzan a trabajar muy temprano en condiciones adversas, a pesar de esta condiciones adversas para realizar su trabajo, valoran positivamente su actividad labora, destacando el significado que tiene como aportador a la economía familiar. Da a conocer los espacios para el juego tanto en la casa como en la escuela tomando como referencia el impacto que causa el trabajo productivo y reproductivo de las niños niños trabajadores del campo