[Family structure and function during adolescence: relationship with social support, tobacco, alcohol and drugs consumption, and psychic discomfort].

Objectives: To find out the family structure and functionality of the family of the adolescent and their relationships with social support, consumption of drugs and alcohol, and psychic discomfort.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Setting And Population: Pupils in obligatory secondary education in one rural and one urban area.

Material And Methods: Self-administered questionnaire in which details of, age, sex, family structure, family Apgar test, Saranson social support questionnaire (SSQ-6), drug and alcohol consumption, and the Goldberg anxiety-depression scale (GADS), were recorded.

Results: A total of 386 adolescents participated, and had a mean age of 14.3 years +/-0.3 and with 51+/-2.5. The nuclear family structure was predominant, with 84%+/-1.9%, single parent family in 7%+/-1.3%, extended in 7%+/-1.3%, and binuclear in 2%+/-0.6%, and was not associated with any of the variables studied. The family function was normal in 54.5%+/-2.5%, with slight dysfunction in 38.3%+/-2.5% and severe dysfunction in 7.2%+/-1.3%. The SSQ-6 (satisfaction 4.6+/-0.1; number of supports 3.1+/-0.1) varied according to family function (satisfaction: normal, 4.9+/-0.6; slight dysfunction, 4.4+/-0.5; severe dysfunction, 3.4+/-1.8: P< .01, ANOVA). Severe family dysfunction was associated with a higher consumption of drugs and alcohol: there was 27%+/-6.4% (P< .01, chi2 test) higher alcohol consumption, with a quantitative increase of 4.3+/-0.9 standard drink units/week (P< .001, ANOVA); 32%+/-5.9% (P< .01, chi2 test) more smoking, with an increase in consumption of 4.3+/-1.4 cigarettes/day (P< .001, ANOVA), and the consumption of other illegal drugs increased to 13%+/-4.7% (P< .087, chi2). A high prevalence of psychic discomfort (GADS: anxiety, 92.0%+/-1.4%, depression, 74.1%+/-2.2%); there were more depressive symptoms when the family function was more intense (P< .01, chi2 test).

Conclusions: Structure does not influence family function during adolescence. However, the adolescent perception of the family structure influences social support, the consumption of drugs and alcohol and the presence of depressive symptoms.