RESUMO Objetivo: As relações entre saúde mental e fatores contextuais têm sido cada vez mais investigadas na literatura científica no sentido de identificar elementos que possam se configurar como protetivos. Este estudo teve por objetivo identificar quais recursos (atividades, passeios com a família, brinquedos, elementos materiais e de aprendizagem) eram oferecidos no cotidiano das crianças que apresentam transtornos mentais e, a partir disso, verificar se há associações entre a oferta de tais recursos no ambiente familiar e as áreas de maior prejuízo em relação a problemas de saúde mental. Métodos: Participaram 33 cuidadores/responsáveis de/por crianças entre 6 e 12 anos de idade com diagnósticos mais frequentes de transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade e transtorno do espectro autista acompanhadas em um hospital geral. Foram utilizados: Questionário de Capacidades e Dificuldades (SDQ – versão pais) e Inventário de Recursos do Ambiente Familiar (RAF). Resultados: A partir de uma análise descritiva e correlacional, revelou-se que quanto mais problemas de saúde mental estão presentes nas crianças, menor é a oferta de recursos no ambiente familiar. Conclusão: A oferta de recursos ambientais mostrou-se protetiva para o desenvolvimento infantil. Tais achados são relevantes para auxiliar no delineamento de estratégias para a promoção de saúde mental destinada ao público infantil.

ABSTRACT Objective: The relationship between mental health and contextual factors has been increasingly investigated in the scientific literature to identify elements that may configure themselves as protective. The present study aimed to identify what resources (activities, family outings, toys, material elements, and learning) were offered in the daily lives of children with mental disorders, and from this, verify whether the offer of such resources in the family was associated with areas of greatest damage relative to mental health problems. Methods: Thirty-three caregivers of/people responsible for children between 6 and 12 years of age with most frequent diagnoses in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder seen at a general hospital participated. We used the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ – parents version) and Family Environment Resources Inventory (RAF). Results: From a descriptive and correlational analysis, it was revealed that the more the mental health problems were present in children, the lower the family resources offer. Conclusions: The environmental resources offer proved to be protective for child development. Such findings are relevant to aid in outlining strategies for promoting mental health among children.

Abstract Introduction The presence of mental disorders in a family may cause various losses in its functioning and characteristics. Objective To determine which environmental resources are offered to children with mental disorders by their families and how they correlated with the family functioning. Method The study included a total of 33 persons responsible for children with mental disorders. The subjects responded to two questionnaires to characterize family functioning (FACES IV) and the availability of resources in the family environment (RAF). Data were analyzed in a descriptively and the Spearman correlation test was used to identify associations between variables. Results Most of the children were male and attended school, and the most frequent psychiatric diagnoses were attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Most families were considered to have good family functioning (87.9%), with only 12.1% being considered dysfunctional. Regarding environmental resources, the highest mean values were assigned to the presence of toys (6.9 ± 2.0) and to family gatherings for routine activities (6.6 ± 2.3). Family cohesion, flexibility, communication, and satisfaction (functional) were positively correlated with the offer of activities and resources and negatively correlated with unbalanced (dysfunctional) subscales. Discussion and conclusion Children’s mental disorders do not appear to affect family dynamics in a significant manner. However, family functioning interferes with the types of activities and resources it offers to the child and that may have an impact on his/her development.

Resumen Introducción La presencia de un trastorno mental en una familia puede causar varias pérdidas en su funcionamiento y sus características. Objetivo Determinar qué recursos ambientales reciben de sus familias los niños con trastornos mentales y cómo se correlacionan con el funcionamiento familiar. Método El estudio contó con la participación de un total de 33 personas responsables de niños con trastornos mentales. Los sujetos respondieron a dos cuestionarios para caracterizar el funcionamiento familiar (FACES IV) y la disponibilidad de recursos en el entorno familiar (RAF). Los datos se analizaron de manera descriptiva y la prueba de correlación de Spearman se utilizó para identificar asociaciones entre variables. Resultados La mayoría de los niños eran del sexo masculino y asistían a la escuela, y los diagnósticos psiquiátricos más frecuentes fueron el trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad y el trastorno del espectro autista. Se consideró que la mayoría de las familias tenían un buen funcionamiento familiar (87.9%), y sólo el 12.1% se consideró disfuncional. Con respecto a los recursos ambientales, los valores medios más altos se asignaron a la presencia de juguetes (6.9 ± 2.0) y a las reuniones familiares para actividades de rutina (6.6 ± 2.3). La cohesión familiar, la flexibilidad, la comunicación y la satisfacción (funcional) se correlacionaron positivamente con la oferta de actividades y recursos y se correlacionaron negativamente con subescalas desequilibradas (disfuncionales). Discusión y conclusión Los trastornos mentales de los niños no parecen afectar la dinámica familiar de manera significativa. Sin embargo, el funcionamiento familiar interfiere con los tipos de actividades y recursos que ofrece al niño o niña, lo que puede tener un impacto en su desarrollo.