Abstract

BENINCASA, Miria  and  REZENDE, Manuel Morgado. Sadness and suicide: risk and protection factors among adolescents. Bol. psicol [online]. 2006, vol.56, n.124, pp. 93-110. ISSN 0006-5943.

The suicide and its attempts are the second cause of internments into the 10 to 19 year old female population that enter the SUS system. This study aimed to identify risk and protection factors related to this phenomenon. The study’s participants were 32 adolescents, divided into four groups according to their socialeconomic level (according to IBGE’s specifications): two groups classified as high socioeconomic level adolescents; and two groups as lower socioeconomic level adolescents. Data was collected through the focal group technique. Results indicated that the risk to be approached is sadness, while the suicide was considered a consequence of this feeling. “Fight between parents”, “loneliness” and “betrayal of friends and romantic partners” had been observed as risk factors to sadness. The factor of protection presented was “someone trustworthy to talk”. Thus, the need to create listening spaces, and also the establishment of programs of health protection to this population were identified.

Keywords : Adolescence; Sadness; Risk factors; Protection factors; Focal group technique.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )