PROMOTING PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN ADOLESCENTS THROUGH PSYCHOSOCIAL AND FAMILY ADJUSTMENT

Abstract

Adolescence is a stage of development that involves a vital change and a process of personal adjustment. This adjustment also affects the family context. In adolescents with chronic illness, these changes can put their emotional well-being and health at risk. In this symposium, different protection factors are analyzed at a personal, family and disease level, which promote the psychological well-being of adolescents. Specifically, on a personal level, the most relevant protection factors, to enhance well-being at this stage, include variables such as self-esteem, emotional adjustment, personality and a healthy lifestyle. Regarding the family context, we provide data on the importance of the adolescent’s affective relationships with their parents, support, and family communication. Emphasize that the subjective experience of the adolescent about the relationship with their parents influences their well-being. When chronic diseases such as bronchial asthma arise in this evolutionary stage, adolescents develop more resources to adapt themselves to the disease and make a healthy adjustment. Wellness is associated with variables such as self-esteem, the relationship with peers, as well as good control of the disease. This research show the importance of attending to the psychological well-being of adolescents, as a resource to face the period of changes and adjustments. To do this, we must broaden the focus of attention by addressing the protective factors, such as self-esteem, that can be developed through psychoeducational programs. Promoting these personal and family factors will increase the well-being of adolescents.

Inmaculada Montoya Castilla is Professor in the University of Valencia, Spain. She graduated (1992-1997) and got her PhD in Psychology (2002) at the University of Valencia. She has been a Professor at the University of Valencia (2003-2004, 2009-present), UNED (2004-2005), and International University of Valencia (2009). She is a Gestalt Psychotherapist and has carried out training oriented to the clinic, teaching, and research. She has conducted direct interventions in the classroom. She coordinated the Department of Educational Guidance (2005-2009). Her teaching focuses on psychological assessment and treatments in the different stages of development. The research is carried out mainly in two areas: educational and health areas. Within the educational area, her research focuses on emotional competences, childhood, adolescence, and family. She has participated as principal investigator, and as a member of the research team, in different projects funded by public and private entities. From these projects, she has publications on styles of parenting and health in childhood, training parents for conflict resolution and communication, emotional competences in childhood, and emotional development in adolescence. She is currently the principal investigator of a Project funded by the Government of Spain, whose main product is the development of PREDEMA Program. An emotional education program for adolescents. From the emotion to the meaning (2016). Madrid: Pirámide. She is currently the main researcher of an I+D+I Project, entitled: “Socio-emotional intervention supported by ICTs: development of responsibility and well-being in the educational community”, funded by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (PSI2017-84005- R). In the health area, she investigates the psychological repercussions of the chronic disease in the pediatric patient and his family, specifically in Diabetes mellitus type 1 and respiratory disease. All this research has given rise different publications in national and international scientific journals, books oriented to teaching, as well as books and chapters on the results of research and contributions in national and international congresses.