The book is the result of the international research initiative Global Early Adolescence Study (GEAS). Its development in Chile was made possible thanks to collaboration between the Public Health Program of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Usach, the San Bernardo Health and Education Corporation, and Johns Hopkins University.
The presentation was attended by university authorities, representatives of the municipality of San Bernardo, and key professionals who participated in the study.
The ceremony was welcomed by the dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Alejandro Guajardo Córdoba, who highlighted the importance of the collaborative work behind the publication and the opportunity this research provides to raise awareness of a highly relevant issue and the challenge of addressing mental health in adolescents.
Dean Guajardo extended his congratulations to the authors, observing that this publication “enhances our visibility both internally and externally.” He further indicated that “an additional six titles are currently in preparation, reflecting the community’s engagement and impetus to disseminate knowledge of the faculty’s endeavors.”
The head of Medical Sciences took the opportunity to highlight the work carried out by the different schools, which has “strengthened the Facimed collection with cross-cutting themes of well-being and science.”
Matilde Maddaleno, head of the Public Health Program and one of the book’s editors, referred to the objective of the research, how gender norms in early adolescence affect behaviors and health outcomes over time, and how this process unfolds in different cultural and social settings.
The study examined adolescents aged 10 to 14 attending municipal schools in San Bernardo. The work yielded important results and served as “a wake-up call, as emotional suffering is part of these young people's lives,” according to the academic.
Dr. Maddaleno assured that, following the interviews that were conducted, the results are conclusive. “They reveal a worrying picture of mental health that we must address as a country. Today, adolescents show high levels of isolation and depressive symptoms, and one in three has thought about hurting themselves,” she said.
The book’s editor also commented that gender stereotypes exist. Girls, for example, reject their bodies, while boys exhibit entrenched violence, exacerbated by the pandemic.
For Dr. Maddaleno, the results of this study invite us to reflect on “the need to address this issue in public policy.”
Teresa Valdés, coordinator of the Gender and Equity Observatory and official presenter of the book, commented on the results of this research. She highlighted the importance of carrying out this work with adolescents in a semi-urban community where boys and girls express their ideas about what it means to be a man or a woman.
“They also share their expectations, life stories, and patterns of violence. All of this makes it an excellent study for us to consider what is happening today with children aged 10 to 14, their self-perception, and its impact on their health and sexuality,” she explained.
Praising the Usach Public Health Program, the gender expert highlighted its work for providing “very valuable data that can inform the development of policies to improve the living conditions of this age group.”
Andrés Aedo, PhD in sociology and researcher at the Public Health Program, referred to the data collection process. “It was very demanding, as it was carried out between the pandemic and post-pandemic periods, requiring us to adapt the techniques and formats of the process. In other words, it was a public health study in the midst of a public health crisis,” he said.
Dr. Maddaleno concluded the activity by stating that the study’s databases “will be made available to the university community, thereby encouraging new research to deepen our understanding of these adolescents.”