SELF-ESTEEM AND MENTAL-HEALTH IN ADOLESCE NTS

We assessed a group of adolescents who consulted at the Mental Health Center of the Roberto del Rio Hospital in Santiago, Chile, and the rel ation between their mental health and their social, family, school and personal selfesteem. We used a mental health questionnaire, a selfest eem inventory and a assessment instrument for evaluating the socioecon omic structure of their family. With the help of the chi square test w e found that a decrease in selfesteem was related to the presence of p sychological difficulties and viceversa. We specifically found that pe rsonal and social selfesteem were significantly related with the menta l health of the adolescents. We discussed our findings in relation to the specific task of this developmental stage.