Self-image and psychological distress in treatment-seeking adolescents

Background: Adolescence has been recognized as a critical period for mental health during which it is fundamental to the well-being of adolescents to provide early and appropriate mental health interventions. Self-image perceptions play a particularly relevant role during adolescence since individuals are extensively involved in reorganizing their identity and relationships. Although the self-image development implies adaptive outcomes for most adolescents, some age-related tasks can be difficult to deal with and lead to psychological suffering for a minority of them. Method: This study examined how domain-specific self-image was associated with psychological distress in 128 treatment-seeking adolescents aged 13–18 (60.9% female). The adolescents completed the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire to measure their global and domain-specific self-image and the Youth-Outcome Questionnaire to assess their psychological distress. Results: Regression analyses indicated that impulse control, emotional tone, family, and social functioning significantly predict worse psychological functioning in the entire group. Moreover, significant gender differences emerged showing a more complex set of risk factors among adolescent females, thus suggesting the need for gender-targeted preventive and treatment strategies. Conclusions: The findings highlight that adolescents’ feelings and concerns about their self-image may be key factors to consider in planning, developing, and delivering effective public mental health services for adolescents.