RESUMO
Background and aim: Many studies have investigated the association between maltreatment and substance use in adulthood.In this study, we sought to explore the association between substance use during adolescence, diverse forms of child maltreatment, and psychological symptoms within a cohort of individuals under the purview of child protection services in France. Method: The dataset was culled from a retrospective, population-based study encompassing minors and young adults aged 0 to 21, who were under the care of child protection services. Specifically, we conducted a comparative analysis between minors exhibiting substance use (N = 72) and those without such use (N = 776). Result: The odds ratios predominantly illuminated a significant correlation between Substance Use and the manifestation of self-destructive behavior (OR = 4.35; CI 2.02-9.59), as well as aggressive behavior (OR = 5.75; CI 2.87-11.84). Univariate analysis also hinted at an association between SUD and suicidal ideation (OR = 3.52; CI 2.1-5.90). Conclusion: Children in France who are in the care of child protection services and who use psychoactive substances are at greater risk of dropping out of school and of having other psychological symptoms. It is important that the public authorities take account of these results in order to adjust the care given to these minors, who often do not receive psychological support.
RESUMO
The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on mental health across populations, especially young and precarious people. Furthermore, COVID-19 diagnosis itself has been associated with psychiatric symptoms. However, only a few studies have assessed the mental health of precarious youth, and examined a possible association with food insecurity, while including COVID-19 diagnosis in their analyses. We aimed to determine the prevalence of poor mental health in precarious youth during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to investigate its possible association with food insecurity, independently of COVID-19 diagnosis. In a cross-sectional study conducted in the context of an employment program for precarious youth (18-25 years) living in Paris, France, 823 individuals were assessed for depression, anxiety, subjective distress and food insecurity during the second lockdown of 2020. A directed acyclic graph (DAG)-based approach was used to identify confounders for inclusion in a multivariate regression model. Of the 823 precarious youth, 45.93% reported significant symptoms of depression, 36.69% anxiety, 39% distress and 25.39% suicidal ideation. In the multivariate analysis based on DAG, food insecurity (less than one meal per day) was associated with depression (OR = 2.30; CI%: 1.19-4.51), anxiety (OR = 2.51; CI%: 1.29-4.88), distress (OR = 2.36; CI%: 1.23-4.57) and suicidal ideation (OR = 4.81; CI%: 2.46-9.44), independently of age, gender, education, COVID-19 contact and COVID-19 diagnosis. This study highlights the importance of food insecurity on mental health among young precarious people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reducing food insecurity is essential to help reduce psychological distress.
