TEXT ANALYSIS OF THE CRITICAL AREAS NARRATED BY THE ADOLESCENT USERS OF AN ORIENTATION SERVICE

Objective The characterization in the discursive space of 27 risers of the ''Consultorio Juvenil'' (young peoples' clinic), their critical a reas with regard to themes, actors, actions, values and situational pe rception schemes. Method Qualitative study with the use of semiotic an alysis. Analysis was made in three steps: description of manifest text structure; codification in the quest for isotopyes and internal organ ization analysis. Results There is clear differentiation between theme s and means by gender; girls are more fully integrated into intrafamil y relationships and boys into extrafamily ones. Formal engagement is a central theme for young women, while sexuality is for young men. In w omen a moral situation exercises influence over ethical criteria in th e making of decisions: men show an individualist ethic. Both perceive problems as external. foreign to them, as part of their fate. Conclusi ons Social gender formation influences the critical areas, creating my ths and behavior stereotypes. The tendency to see the problem as impos ed can signify a health risk for adolescents.