Chilean Adolescents Research Articles

Psychometric Evaluation of the Adolescent Health Promotion Scale in Chile: Differences by Socioeconomic Status and Gender.

The promotion of healthy behaviors is a relevant issue worldwide, especially among adolescent populations, as this is the developmental stage where most unhealthy behaviors become ingrained. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Adolescent Health Promotion Scale (AHPS) in a Chilean sample of early adolescents. The sample was composed of 1,156 adolescents aged 10-14 years from schools in San Felipe, Chile. Item structure was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses; reliability was measured using Cronbach's alpha; and differences in terms of gender, age, and socioeconomic status (SES) were established using analysis of variance. The analyses of item structure identified all of the six original factors (nutrition behaviors, health responsibility, social support, life appreciation, stress management and exercise behavior) as significant. However, eight items did not fit the Chilean population well. Therefore, the AHPS in Chile has been reduced to 32 items. The Cronbach's alpha of the 32-item Chilean AHPS was .95, with the subscale coefficients ranging from .76 to .94. In addition, female subjects performed better than male subjects, and individuals of higher SES scored higher than the middle and lower socioeconomic groups. No differences on AHPS scores were found in different age groups. The AHPS appears to have good psychometric properties in terms of item structure and reliability. Consistent with studies carried out in other countries, health promotion behavioral differences were observed in association with gender and SES. The results support the Chilean version of the AHPS as an appropriate instrument for measuring the health promotion behaviors of early adolescents in Chile and for comparing results with those from other countries.

Cognitive executive functions and sleep-wake cycle (SWC) patterns in sample of Chilean adolescents

Cognitive executive functions and sleep-wake cycle (SWC) patterns in sample of Chilean adolescents

Impact of Distance on Mode of Active Commuting in Chilean Children and Adolescents.

Active commuting could contribute to increasing physical activity. The objective of this study was to characterise patterns of active commuting to and from schools in children and adolescents in Chile. A total of 453 Chilean children and adolescents aged between 10 and 18 years were included in this study. Data regarding modes of commuting and commuting distance was collected using a validated questionnaire. Commuting mode was classified as active commuting (walking and/or cycling) or non-active commuting (car, motorcycle and/or bus). Commuting distance expressed in kilometres was categorised into six subgroups (0 to 0.5, 0.6 to 1, 1.1 to 2, 2.1 to 3, 3.1 to 5 and >5 km). Car commuting was the main mode for children (to school 64.9%; from school 51.2%) and adolescents (to school 50.2%; from school 24.7%). Whereas public bus commuting was the main transport used by adolescents to return from school. Only 11.0% and 24.8% of children and adolescents, respectively, walk to school. The proportion of children and adolescents who engage in active commuting was lower in those covering longer distances compared to a short distance. Adolescents walked to and from school more frequently than children. These findings show that non-active commuting was the most common mode of transport and that journey distances may influence commuting modes in children and adolescents.

Early Onset Obesity and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome Among Chilean Adolescents.

IntroductionObesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) indicators have increased globally among the pediatric population. MetS indicators in the young elevate their risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders later in life. This study examined early onset obesity as a risk factor for MetS risk in adolescence.MethodsA cohort of Chilean participants (N = 673) followed from infancy was assessed at age 5 years and in adolescence (mean age, 16.8 y). Adiposity was measured at both time points; blood pressure and fasting blood samples were assessed in adolescence only. Early onset obesity was defined as a World Health Organization z score of 2 standard deviations (SDs) or more for body mass index (BMI) at age 5 years. We used linear regression to examine the association between early onset obesity and adolescent MetS risk z score, adjusting for covariates.ResultsEighteen percent of participants had early onset obesity, and 50% of these remained obese in adolescence. Mean MetS risk z score in adolescence was significantly higher among those with early onset obesity than among those without (1.0; SD, 0.8 vs 0.2; SD, 0.8 [P < .001]). In the multivariable model, early onset obesity independently contributed to a higher MetS risk score in adolescence (β = 0.27, P < .001), controlling for obesity status at adolescence and sex, and explained 39% of the variance in MetS risk.ConclusionEarly onset obesity as young as age 5 years relates to higher MetS risk.

Development of a self-report questionnaire designed for population-based surveillance of gingivitis in adolescents: assessment of content validity and reliability.

The major infectious diseases in Chile encompass the periodontal diseases, with a combined prevalence that rises up to 90% of the population. Thus, the population-based surveillance of periodontal diseases plays a central role for assessing their prevalence and for planning, implementing, and evaluating preventive and control programs. Self-report questionnaires have been proposed for the surveillance of periodontal diseases in adult populations world-wide. Objective This study aimed to develop and assess the content validity and reliability of a cognitively adapted self-report questionnaire designed for surveillance of gingivitis in adolescents.Material and Methods Ten predetermined self-report questions evaluating early signs and symptoms of gingivitis were preliminary assessed by a panel of clinical experts. Eight questions were selected and cognitively tested in 20 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years from Santiago de Chile. The questionnaire was then conducted and answered by 178 Chilean adolescents. Internal consistency was measured using the Cronbach’s alpha and temporal stability was calculated using the Kappa-index.Results A reliable final self-report questionnaire consisting of 5 questions was obtained, with a total Cronbach’s alpha of 0.73 and a Kappa-index ranging from 0.41 to 0.77 between the different questions.Conclusions The proposed questionnaire is reliable, with an acceptable internal consistency and a temporal stability from moderate to substantial, and it is promising for estimating the prevalence of gingivitis in adolescents.

Development and testing of the questionnaire CEC-61: Knowledge about cervical cancer in Chilean adolescents

ABSTRACTDespite a clear association between human papillomavirus and cervical cancer, knowledge in adolescent populations regarding the disease and methods for its detection and prevention is deficient. The aim of this study was to develop and test a new questionnaire concerning knowledge on cervical cancer. An instrument was developed and validated to measure knowledge in 226 Chilean adolescents between April and June 2011. Content validity, construct validity, and reliability analysis of the instrument were performed. The new, validated instrument, called CEC-61 (Conocimientos en Cancer Cérvicouterino-61 items/Knowledge in Cervical Cancer-61 items), contains nine factors and 61 items. The new questionnaire explained 81% of the variance with a reliability of 0.96. The assessment of knowledge with a valid and reliable instrument is the first step in creating interventions for a population and to encourage appropriate preventive behavior. CEC-61 is highly reliable and has a clear factorial structure to evaluate knowledge in nine domains related to cervical cancer disease, cervical cancer risk, papilloma virus infection, the Papanicolaou test, and the papilloma virus vaccine.

Coping and Psychopathological Profile in Nonsuicidal Self-Injurious Chilean Adolescents.

The aims of this study were to establish the roles of coping typologies and the psychological problems associated with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and to identify adolescents who are at greater risk of engaging in this practice. The total sample comprised 965 adolescents (57% girls, aged 12-18 years) from several Chilean schools who answered the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury questionnaire. Young people with and without NSSI present different coping patterns, especially when compared by gender. Adolescents with repetitive NSSI (R-NSSI) report using escape, search for friendship, and venting feelings as coping strategies as well as a more avoidant style and less search for family support than those adolescents without NSSI. Adolescents who present avoidance coping typology are three times more likely (relative risk = 3.5) to engage in NSSI than adolescents who present approach coping typology. R-NSSI adolescents present higher scores on psychological symptomatology (within clinical ranges) than their N-NSSI counterparts. Girls were more likely to present psychological symptoms than boys. The authors highlight the usefulness of coping typologies for the detection of high-risk populations for NSSI as well as the need to consider the gender variable. Professionals who detect clinical levels of symptomatology should also assess the presence of NSSI.

School Refusal Assessment Scale–Revised Chilean Version: Factorial Invariance and Latent Means Differences Across Gender and Age

The School Refusal Assessment Scale–Revised (SRAS-R) is a self-report measure designed to assess four functional factors of school refusal behavior: avoidance of stimuli that provoke negative affectivity (Factor I), escape from aversive social and/or evaluative situations (Factor II), pursuit of attention from significant others (Factor III), and pursuit of tangible reinforcement outside of school (Factor IV). The aim was to analyze the scale’s factorial invariance and latent means differences across gender and age in a sample of 2,678 Chilean adolescents aged 13 to 17 years ( M = 15.23; SD = 1.26). The hypothesized model revealed the best-fit model and remained invariant across gender and age. Good internal consistency was obtained for the four factors (.75, .72, .77, and .71). Latent means differences were found across gender and age.

High DHEAS Is Associated With Earlier Pubertal Events in Girls But Not in Boys.

Context:Premature adrenarche (PA) has been associated with increased metabolic risk.Objective:To describe the risk of precocious thelarche (PT; <8 years), pubarche (PP; girls <8 years, boys <9 years), and gonadarche (PG; <9 years) in children with high dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS [HD]) vs those with normal DHEAS (ND).Setting and Intervention:Longitudinal Chilean cohort (n = 1052, 49.9% girls). Annual clinical examination including secondary sex characteristics by Tanner staging. Logistic regression models were adjusted by age and BMI.Main Outcome:Assess the relationship between DHEAS and premature thelarche, gonadarche, and pubarche in both sexes.Results:At age of DHEAS determination, overweight/obesity was present in 44.3% of boys and 42.9% of girls. Incidences of any precocious event were observed in 17.2% of boys and in 25.4% of girls, presented as 8.7% of PG and 8.5% of PP in boys and as 21.3% of PT and 4.1% of PP in girls. In crude and adjusted models in boys, HD did not increase the risk of earlier pubertal events. Conversely, girls with HD had a 2.6 times greater risk of early thelarche and a three times greater risk of early pubarche compared with girls with ND concentrations.Conclusion:In Chilean adolescents, precocious events of pubertal development were in line with the worldwide secular trend of earlier sexual maturation. HD was only associated with PT and PP in girls. Continuous follow-up of this cohort is a unique opportunity to prospectively address and analyze the interrelationships among HD, early growth, and adiposity as determinants of gonadarche, pubertal rate/sequence progression, and ovarian function.

School collective occupation movements and substance use among adolescents: A school-level panel design

BackgroundRecently, social movements across the world have demanded reforms to education systems and other institutions. Although such movements have affected large numbers of people across multiple countries, we know little about the impacts they have had on population health. We focus on one example: the massive strikes and collective occupation of secondary schools across Chile, which occurred contemporaneously with a large increase in marijuana use among students in this age group. We aimed to evaluate the causal effects that the 2011 Chilean school strikes had on adolescent substance use, including the initiation of marijuana use and the use of alcohol and marijuana. MethodsSchool-level, aggregated panel design using data from the National Drug Surveys among Secondary Students from 2005 to 2015 for students in grades 9–12. We used a fixed-effects difference-in-difference model to estimate the effect of school occupations on prevalence of self-reported indicators of drug use. ResultsReported marijuana use doubled between 2009 and 2013 among Chilean adolescents. After controlling for secular trends in outcomes and for school characteristics, there was no evidence of increased marijuana initiation, alcohol and marijuana use, or of an increase in heavy use among adolescents being directly attributable to school strikes and occupations in 2011. ConclusionsThe 2011 Occupy school movement in Chile had no detectable causal effect on substance use among Chilean adolescents. The increase in marijuana use from 2009 to 2013 seems to be part of broader social changes occurring among the school-age population.

Adolescents’ physical activity levels on physical education and non-physical education days according to gender, age, and weight status

All Latin-American countries are affected by the lack of physical activity and its consequences on youth. Chile’s population has shown troublingly low levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. This is the first study using objectively measured physical activity levels in Chilean adolescents. The objectives were to compare the compliance with daily recommendations of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity between physical education and non-physical education days, and to compare physical activity levels according to gender, age and weight status. A total of 123 Chilean secondary students (52 girls and 71 boys; 13.5 ± 0.7 years old) participated in this study. Physical activity was registered by GT3X accelerometers during an entire week. Results showed that there was a significant increase in the proportion of adolescents achieving the daily recommendation of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on physical education days (23.6%) than on non-physical education days (14.6%) ( p ≤ 0.05). Boys and older adolescents presented statistically higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on physical education days than on non-physical education days. No differences were found in weight status comparison. Physical education has been found to be a crucial element in achieving the daily recommendations of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Diverse strategies in order to increase the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in physical education according to the factors analysed are reported and discussed.

Associations between Physical Activity, Sedentary Time and Percent Body Fat in Chilean Adolescents

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Chilean adolescents in 8th grade has increased from 41% in 2014 to 45% in 2016. However, physical activity (PA) and sedentary characteristics in this group of adolescents has not been evaluated. PURPOSE: To evaluate PA and sedentary time (ST) and their association with percent body fat among 8th grade adolescents in Chile. METHODS: A group of 156 adolescents (87 males, 69 females, mean age= 13.4±0.7 yrs) were recruited from 4 public schools in the metropolitan region in Chile. Measures of height, weight, and percent body fat using bioelectrical impedance were obtained. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured with ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers that adolescents wore in the right hip area attached to an elastic waist band for 8 consecutive days. T-tests were conducted to detect gender differences, and Pearson correlations and linear regressions were used to evaluate associations between PA, ST, and percent body fat. RESULTS: Males and females were not different in ST (9.0±2.6 vs. 8.9±2.8 hr/day, P=0.97), but females had higher percent body fat compared with males (27.8±5.9 vs. 17.2±7.1; P<0.001), lower moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) (170.7±112.8 vs, 285.3±161.1 min/week; P<0.001), and lower steps/day (5951±2139 vs. 7181±2668; respectively, P=0.002). MVPA was inversely associated with percent body fat (r= -0.30, P=0.0004) but ST was not associated with percent body fat. However, a strong inverse association was observed between percent of the day in ST and MVPA (r= -0.62, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: This group of Chilean adolescents had high ST and no compliance with PA recommendations, particularly females; and those with less MVPA had higher percent body fat. To help control the obesity trend among adolescents in Chile, school programs that incorporate more PA and reduce ST is warranted.

Associations between the duration of active commuting to school and academic achievement in rural Chilean adolescents

BackgroundHabitual active commuting to school may be positively associated with academic achievement. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between duration of walking or otherwise actively commuting to school and academic achievement.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 389 adolescents from seven rural schools (12–13 years). Mode and duration of active commuting to school (use of active means such as walking or biking to and from school) and screen time were self-reported. Academic achievement was determined by the outcome in basic grades (language and mathematics).ResultsActive commuting to school was not associated with higher scores in any grades after adjustment for potential confounders. No evidence was found of interactions between gender and academic achievement, but there was interaction with duration of walking (<30 min, 30–60 min, and >60 min). Adjusted binary logistic regression analysis suggested that adolescents who spent between 30 and 60 min actively commuting were more likely to obtain high academic achievement (language and mathematics).ConclusionsThirty to 60 min of ACS may have a positive influence on academic achievement in adolescents, so, it is necessary to make recommendations for the children to walk from and/or to school. This could help society to recognize the relevance of physical activity to health as well as to academic performance.

Chilean deaf adolescents’ experiences with reading: beliefs and practices associated to different types of reading activities

ABSTRACTDeaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) students’ difficulties with written language have been consistently reported, but there are few studies about deaf students’ reading practices and experiences. This study aimed to characterize past and current reading experiences of Chilean D/HH adolescents. There were 46 participating students (7th–12th graders). Semi-structured interviews were conducted, which addressed students’ beliefs about reading, early experiences with books, preferred reading material, and perceptions of themselves as readers. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results show that, for students, reading is an arduous and not much enjoyed activity; it becomes a task they try to avoid and which they circumscribe mostly to the school context. Some of them report enjoying interacting with other types of texts, especially when these include pictures, but they do not seem to consider them as true reading activities. Reading difficulties faced in their early school years are still present. Students tend to blame their difficulties on limited vocabulary knowledge and to ask for help from teachers and parents in order to understand text. Most of them are not independent readers, and having to rely on someone else to understand text perpetuates their view of themselves as non-readers. Results are interpreted within a sociocultural framework to understand learning and motivation; the discussion includes suggestions for improving teaching practices.

Adolescentes encuentran fácil tomar sus propias muestras para estudio de infecciones de transmisión sexual

As alternative for patients that fear genital examination, we assessed adolescent's comfort and ease with self-collected samples for nucleic acid amplification testing for sexually transmitted infections. Sexually active Chilean adolescents and youth under 25 years (174 males and 117 females) were enrolled. Females used self-collected vaginal swabs and males collected first-stream urine. A satisfaction survey evaluating self-sampling system was applied. Self-collection was considered easy in 99.3% of the interviewees (CI 95% 0.88-0.98). In women, 79.3% preferred vaginal self-collected samples than pelvic exam (CI 95% 0.73-0.85). In men, 80.3% preferred self-collected first-stream urine to urethral swabs (CI 95% 0.73-0.87). Assuming that self-collected sampling were available, 89.6% of women (CI 95% 0.85-0.94) and 93.2% of men (CI 95% 0.89-0.98) would be prone to be tested more often. Ease of self-collected sampling is not associated with age, gender, educational level or poverty. Chile currently does not have sexually transmitted infections surveillance or screening programs for youth and adolescents. Given self-collected sampling's good acceptability, it could be successfully used when these programs are implemented.

Greater early weight gain and shorter breastfeeding are associated with low adolescent adiponectin levels.

Early life factors can programme future risk for cardiovascular disease. We explored associations between adolescent adiponectin levels and concomitant metabolic alteration and also looked at the association between early life factors and adolescent adiponectin levels. We studied a longitudinal cohort of low-income to middle-income Chilean adolescents who were enroled in an infancy iron-deficiency anaemia preventive trial and follow-up studies at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile. In the 577 adolescents who were assessed as part of the 16-year follow-up, we evaluated independent associations between adiponectin levels and metabolic disturbances during adolescence. We also assessed the association between early life factors [short breastfeeding {<6months} and infancy weight gain] and adolescent adiponectin levels. Participants were 16.8years old (16.4-18.1), 48% female and 38% overweight/obese. Adolescent adiponectin levels were inversely associated with metabolic disturbances: altered homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [odds ratios {95% confidence interval}=0.87 {0.79-0.95}, p-value=0.002, and 0.90 {0.87-0.94}, p-value<0.001, respectively], adjusting for sex and fat mass index. Early life factors were independently associated with adolescent adiponectin levels, which decreased 0.88ugmL-1 per each unit increase in weight-for-age z-score between 0 and 6months and was 1.58ugmL-1 lower among participants with short breastfeeding. Higher adolescent adiponectin levels were independently associated with lower odds of metabolic disturbances. Greater weight gain during infancy and shorter breastfeeding were associated with lower adolescent adiponectin levels, supporting research indicating early life as a window of opportunity for prevention of later cardiovascular alterations. © 2017 World Obesity Federation.

Abstract P113: Lipid-related Genetic Variants and Lipid Outcomes in a Cohort of Chilean Children

Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor for chronic cardiometabolic diseases. Lipid traits are highly heritable and there are currently &gt;185 established loci influencing lipid levels in adults. Recent studies have confirmed that variants associated with lipids influence lipid levels across the lifecourse, and in ancestrally diverse populations. Given that Hispanic/Latinos (HL) shoulder much of the cardiometabolic burden in the United States, it is important to identify genetic variants that contribute the greatest risk for elevated lipid levels across life stages. Thus, our primary aim is to examine the association of known lipid variants with lipid traits identified in large study of adult participants from a Chilean infancy cohort of primarily European-descent. The sample assessed from 2008 to 2013 (n=546) had genotyping and well-measured lipid phenotypes (median age: 16.8 years, interquartile range: 16.6, 16.9). We assessed single variant associations using linear regression for high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG), assuming an additive genetic model, adjusted for sex. Additionally, we regressed phenotypes onto weighted trait-specific polygenic risk scores (PRS). Only six variants from the Chilean sample met the a priori threshold of power &gt; 0.8. We found statistically significant effect sizes (mmol/l (se)) for four of the six variants: rs3764261 (0.16 (0.04)) and rs1532085 (0.05 (0.04)) for HDL and rs1260326 (0.34 (0.15)) and rs964184 (0.33 (0.15)) for TG. For each significant variant, direction of effect matched the multiethnic adult GWAS from which SNPs were selected. We compared our findings to a previous study in Finnish children at age 18 years (n=1,216) and found an opposite direction of effect for our significant HDL variants. Likewise, when comparing coefficients for the PRS between the Chilean and Finnish youth sample we found the association to be stronger in the Chilean sample for every trait and gender group with the exception of LDL for males. The lipid loci explained the least amount of total variance for LDL (males=4% and females=5%) and the most amount of variance for HDL (males=20% and females=14%). In conclusion, there is evidence that lipid loci from a HL sample of adolescents contain similar associations as those from European children and adults. Despite the small sample size and possibility for bias with different ancestral groups we found meaningful and statistically significant associations relating lipid loci in a HL cohort of Chilean adolescents with those found in European ancestral groups. These associations emphasize the importance of adolescence as a time for disease prevention given studies demonstrating both the persistence of associations between PRS and lipids over the life course and the increasing role PRS plays in predicting disease.

Individual and contextual factors associated with tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use among Chilean adolescents: A multilevel study

We studied the association between individual and contextual variables and the use of tobacco, alcohol, or cannabis in the last 30 days preceding the study, considering the hierarchical nature of students nested in schools. We used the 7th Chilean National School Survey of Substance Use (2007) covering 45,273 students (aged 12–21 years old) along with information from 1465 schools provided by the Chilean Ministry of Education. Multilevel univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were performed. We found a significant intra-class correlation within schools for all substances in the study. Common (e.g., availability of pocket money, more time spent with friends, poor parental monitoring, poor school bonding, bullying others, and lower risk perception of substance use) and unique predictors (e.g., school achievement on national tests) were identified. These findings may help in planning and conducting preventive interventions to reduce substance use.

Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en estudiantes universitarios de primer año

Objetivo: Calidad de Vida Relacionada con la Salud (CVRS) en estudiantes universitarios de primer año. Material y Método: Estudio observacional, transversal y analítico en estudiantes de 17 a 18 años de primer año de 14 Facultades, 2 Institutos y 1 Programa de Bachillerato. Se aplicó el test Kidscreen-52, enviado por correo electrónico a 3.738 estudiantes. Contestaron 1.277 (34,16%). Análisis con programa WINSTEPS y expresión con puntajes Rasch. Resultados: Las dimensiones Bienestar Físico, Estado de Ánimo y Emociones y Autonomía con menos de 42 puntos Rasch, y otras dos, Bienestar Psicológico, Amigos y Apoyo Social tuvieron puntajes significativamente menores a lo encontrado en adolescentes chilenos de edad comparable, en mujeres, escolares de establecimientos municipales de bajo nivel socioeconómico, con Índice de Vulnerabilidad Escolar (IVE) o con discapacidad o problema de salud o enfermedad crónica. Las diferencias son mayores en Facultades con más demanda académica. Este primer estudio revela información no conocida, trascendente para estudiantes, académicos y sus autoridades. Se sospecha que posiblemente ocurre en otras universidades. Conclusiones: Los estudios de Calidad de Vida estudiantil son factibles de aplicar en instituciones de educación superior en beneficio de educandos y educadores. Este estudio es un insumo para diagnóstico y evaluación de las políticas salud y apoyo estudiantil y aporta a la orientación de la docencia. En el futuro podrían aplicarse instrumentos de medición de la Calidad de Vida en estudiantes de otras edades y en otros estamentos universitarios con test validados en Chile, combinado con estudios de Factores de Riesgo.

ADOLESCENTES CHILENOS Y PERSONALIDAD EFICAZ DIFERENCIAS DE GÉNERO

Abstract.CHILEAN ADOLESCENTS AND EFFECTIVE PERSONALITY GENDER DIFFERENCESThe present study examines if there are gender differences in Effective Personality in Chilean adolescents. a sample of 222 students (61,7% male and 38,3% female) were used. Effective Personality Short Questionnaire was used, an instrument consisting of 28 items divided into 3 subscales: Academic Self-Realization, Resolving capacity and socio-Affective self-realization. The results show statistically significant differences in socio-Affective self-realization factor with a higher average in the group of boys. There are not statistically significant differences in Academic Self-Realization and Resolving capacity. It can be concluded that the group of men perceived significantly more favorably into the relations of self sphere. They have personal and social confidence, self-esteem and expectations of success in their relationships. The differences found between the two groups can be attributed to believe that, despite the sociocultural changes, differentiated roles and stereotypes associated with each gender still persist.Keywords. Effective Personality, Adolescence, GenderResumen.El presente estudio analiza si existen diferencias de género en Personalidad Eficaz en adolescentes chilenos. Se utiliza para ello una muestra de 222 estudiantes (61,7% hombres y 38,3% mujeres). Se empleó el Cuestionario Abreviado de Personalidad Eficaz, un instrumento que consta de 28 ítems distribuidos en 3 subescalas: Autorrealización Académica, Eficacia Resolutiva y Autorrealización Socio-Afectiva. Los resultados muestran diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el factor Autorrealización Socio-Afectiva, con una media superior en el grupo de chicos. No se obtuvieron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los factores Autorrealización Académica y Eficacia Resolutiva. Se puede concluir que el grupo de los hombres se percibe significativamente de forma más favorable en lo relativo a la esfera de Relaciones del Yo. Tienen confianza personal y social, autoestima y expectativas de éxito en sus relaciones. Las diferencias encontradas entre ambos grupos, consideramos que pueden atribuirse a que, pese a las transformaciones socioculturales, todavía persisten los roles y estereotipos diferenciados asociados a cada género.Palabras Clave. Personalidad Eficaz, Adolescencia, Género