The (in)visibility of family psychological violence in the visits of adolescents who use the outpatient clinics of a tertiary public pediatric hospital

Abstract

Objective: considering the magnitude of the impact of violence on youth health, we in vestigate the (in)visibility of the occurrence of psychological violence (PV) family. Methods: quantitative cross-sectional study with a sample of 229 adolescent users of outpatient services of a public tertiary pediatric hospital and review of records. Inclusion criteria: user 12-18 years with and without cognitive impairment. A review of medical re cords was performed after the occurrence of the interviews, through the medical file, in 172 records (75.1% of the adolescents interviewed). Results: in 98% of verbal reports met exposure to VP family, being 26.4% of patients in the most severe grade, with no reference in the records. There was no statistical associa tion between VP and family clinical problems present and past, although it has been eleva ted to its association with mental health problems. Conclusions: due to the high occurrence of VP family in the sample studied, it is sugges ted to include the investigation of abuse in juvenile family relationship in pediatric differen tial diagnosis, as well as the need to have more studies on the effects of violence on phy sical health.