[Factors underlying psycho-social problems]

To investigate personal and family variables involved in the appearance of psychosocial problems (PSP) and the role of stressful life events (SLE) and Social Network and Support in its genesis; and to construct a profile of a PSP patient.

Transversal, descriptive study.

Almanjayar Health Centre, Granada, Spain.

Three hundred fourteen patients over 18 selected by systematic sampling in on-demand consultation.

Every patient had an interview, filling in the GHQ-28 (with scores>or=8 considered indicative of PSP), the family Apgar test (Family Function study), the Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Scale (SLE in the last year), the DUKE-UNC questionnaire (Social Support), and Social Network (number of people). The Structure and Stage of the Family Life Cycle, social-economic and cultural level, work and income were also determined. A descriptive analysis of each variable and its association with the GHQ-28 through the chi2 test were also conducted. To find what categories were associated independently with high scores on the GHQ, a multivariate analysis was carried out.

Categories of age (between 30 and 59 years old), gender (being a woman) and social-economic level (unskilled workers) entail greatest risk of PSP. Similarly, single-parent families, perception of family dysfunction, high levels of stress (OR=3.02; 95% CI, 1.76-5.18), and low social support affect PSP.

The profile of a PSP patient in our setting is of a middle-aged woman forming part of a single-parent and/or dysfunctional family, who has suffered major SLEs and has insufficient social support.