Relationship between family dynamics and mental health of adolescents

Cilj istraživanja bio je istražiti povezanost obiteljske dinamike i mentalnog zdravlja adolescenata. U istraživanju su analizirani podaci sa savjetodavnih linija udruge Hrabri telefon (N = 91) iz 2017. godine te podaci prikupljeni na uzorku skupine adolescenata 2 učenička doma iz Zagreba (N = 65). Podaci o zaprimljenim pozivima se unašaju u sustav pod nazivom „iCarol“ u kojem savjetovatelji označavaju temu o kojoj se razgovaralo u pozivu. Sustav je podijeljen na 13 glavnih kategorija od kojih svaka od njih ima dodatne podkategorije. Za potrebe ovog istraživanja korištene su dvije kategorije: mentalno zdravlje i obiteljski odnosi. Za prikupljanje podataka u učeničkim domovima bio je izrađen upitnik prilagođen kategorijama baze podataka Hrabrog telefona. Rezultati ovoga istraživanja ukazuju na to da se adolescentice značajno više suočavaju s depresivnim mislima te se češće samoozljeđuju i razmišljaju o samoubojstvu, dok adolescenti iskazuju statistički značajno više osjećaja dosade kao i verbalno i/ili fizičko agresivno ponašanje. Sudionici skupine Hrabri telefon iskazuju statistički značajno više suicidalnih misli te se češće samoozljeđuju, dok su kod sudionika iz skupine učeničkih domova sve ostale kategorije učestalije. Sudionici učeničkih domova, nailaze na značajno više teškoća u odnosu s bratom i/ili sestrom, češće osjećaju pritisak od strane roditelja te im se češće roditelji sukobljavaju i svađaju. Sudionici Hrabrog telefona iskazuju značajno više teškoća u odnosu s jednim i/ili oba roditelja. Najznačajnijim prediktorom mentalnog zdravlja se pokazao odnos s roditeljima, zatim odgojni postupci roditelja te pritisak od strane roditelja.The aim of this research was to explore the relationship between family dynamics and mental health of adolescents. We analyzed data from child helpline Brave phone (N = 91) from 2017 and data which was collected on a sample of 2 pupils’ dormitories from Zagreb (N = 65). Received Call Data is entered into a system called "iCarol" in which counselors mark the topic that was discussed in the call. The system is divided into 13 major categories, each of which has additional subcategories. Two categories have been used for this research: mental health and family relationships. A questionnaire adapted to the categories of the Brave Phone database was compiled for data collection in the pupils’ dormitory. The results of this research suggest that female adolescents are more likely to face depressive thinking and are more self-reliant and think of suicide while male adolescents exhibit more frequently feelings of boredom as well as verbal and/or physical aggressive behavior. Participants of the Brave phone group report statistically significant more suicidal thoughts and are more often self-involved, while in the pupils’ dormitories participants, all the other categories are more frequent. Participants from pupils’ dormitories encounter significantly more difficulties in relation to their brother and/or sister, they are more likely to feel pressure from their parents, and their parents are more often arguing. Brave phone participants show significantly more difficulties in relation to one and/or both parents. The most significant predictor of mental health was relationship with parents, then parental behavior and pressure from parents