Anxiety disorders in chilean adolescents: a study of their relationship with multidimensional poverty at the regional level

ISBN
ISSN
2764-0159
ISSNe
Resumen
Introduction. Anxiety in adolescents is a common emotional response, but when it becomes chronic, it can have a significant impact on their well-being and development. Factors such as stress, social relationships and family pressures can trigger it, while poverty can aggravate it, creating an even more challenging environment that negatively affects their emotional development. Objective. To analyze the rate of low control of adolescents admitted for Anxiety disorders in the Mental Health Program in Primary Care in Chile during the period 2013 to 2022 and its relationship with Multidimensional Poverty at the regional level. Materials and Method. Ecological study in adolescent beneficiaries of FONASA (National Health Fund), who register being under control in the Mental Health program in the period 2013-2022 for diagnosis of Anxiety Disorders (AT). The rate of adolescents under control was estimated according to sex, region and year per 1000 beneficiaries and regional average multidimensional poverty. Percentage variation (PPV) between 2013 and 2022 and rate ratio (RR) were calculated to evaluate differences by sex. Results. During the study period, 7 out of every 1000 adolescents in the country are under control in the Mental Health Program due to AT, being 2.4 times higher in females than in males (RT = 2.376, 95%CI: [2.21-2.54]). All regions experienced an increase in the rate of AT, except Valparaíso. Araucanía had the highest percentage of population living in multidimensional poverty (24.9%), followed by Atacama (23.1%) and Tarapacá (22.5%), with no relationship with the AT rate (p=0.206). Conclusion. The results show a significant increase of adolescents under control for Anxiety Disorders, being 2.4 times higher in women and generalized at national level. No statistically significant relationship was found between multidimensional poverty and anxiety disorders, suggesting that other factors could be influencing their development.
Descripción
Lugar de Publicación
Sponsorship
Citación
International Journal of Health Science, Vol. 5, N°8 (2025) p. 1-11.
Palabras clave
Mental health, Adolescents, Anxiety, Multidimension poverty, Adolescent mental health
Licencia
Atribución-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 3.0 Chile (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 CL)