THE DYNAMIC OF LIFE SATISFACTION'S CORRELATIONS IN ADOLESCENTS WITH INTERNALIZING DISORDERS

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Adolescent Mental Health

Background:

• Adolescents often experience psychosocial challenges, including depression and anxiety.
• The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures may have impacted adolescent mental well-being.
• Understanding the factors influencing adolescent mental health is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the dynamic relationships between life satisfaction, depression, and anxiety symptoms in adolescents.
• To explore how factors like income, school environment, self-esteem, and COVID-19 experiences correlate with mental health outcomes.
• To examine changes in these correlations before and after clinical improvement.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 30 adolescents (ages 13-18) with internalizing problems.
• Data collection through clinical-psychological interviews and anamnestic data.
• Adolescents completed questionnaires twice: pre-treatment and post-treatment.
• Utilized The Satisfaction with Life Scale, anxiety scales, Beck Depression Inventory, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.
• Analyzed data using Pearson's r correlation coefficient.

Main Results:

• Significant correlations between life satisfaction, depression, and anxiety symptoms were observed.
• Correlations shifted and strengthened from pre-treatment to post-treatment.
• Increased adolescent self-insight was a key factor in the dynamic of these correlations.
• Adolescents' inner reality appeared more influential than external circumstances.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent mental health dynamics are significantly influenced by increasing self-awareness and internal factors.
• External factors, potentially exacerbated by lockdown-induced social deprivation, played a role.
• Findings suggest the need for differentiated mental health prevention and intervention strategies for adolescents.