Does the family play a key role in health during adolescence?

Objectives: to examine the differences in family bonds between a "normal" group of young subjects aged 13 to 25 years, and a group suffering from mental disorders. Method: 814 "normal" young subjects completed the Olson questionnaire about their own family. These people were compared with 358 young subjects suffering from mental disorders. Results: the young subjects in the healthy group Came from families which were markedly more cohesive and adaptable than those in the "suffering" group. It also transpired that the young "suffering" patients preferentially stemmed from the family categories "disengaged-structured" and "disengaged-rigid" as defined by Olson. While gender had no influence in these two groups, age determined a progressive reduction in cohesion in the normal young subjects. Conclusions: While "normal" adolescence is marked by a decrease in family cohesion with age, adolescents suffering from mental disorders come from families which are less cohesive and adaptable from the outset compared with those of a "normal" young people