Depressive symptoms among adolescent students in Greek high schools
Depressive symptoms in adolescence have been a subject of considerable controversy in terms of their nature, severity and identifica tion. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the presence of depressive symp toms in Greek adolescent high school students and to explore the relationship between depressive symptoms and sociodemographic characteristics. For that purpose, a cross-sec tional study design was conducted in two pub lic schools in Megalopolis, Greece, from April 2012 to July 2012, using a self-administered questionnaire based on DSM-IV. The target population involved 222 high school students and the response rate was 74.75%. Data was analyzed using trend c2 test, student’s t-test and bivariate analysis. The analysis of survey data was conducted using the SPSS (19.0). Main findings demonstrate that 3.6% had symptoms of major depressive episode. Furthermore, depressive symptoms were sig nificantly higher in girls, while statistically significant relationships were found between students’ physical (P<0.01) and mental health (P<0.008), students’ experiences in school (P<0.02), students’ experiences with friends (P<0.008) and the frequency of depressive symptoms. Overall, the study results reveal that depressive symptoms can occur in adoles cents. Early diagnosis, as well as the need for psychological care at adolescence is necessary for the prevention of major depressive disor ders.
1. WHO. Depression. A global public health concern. 2012. Available from: http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/who_paper_depression_wfmh_2012.pdf
2. Kessler RC, Haro JM, Heeringa SG et al., The World Health Organization world mental health survey initiative. Epidemiol Psichiatr Soc 2006;15:161-6.
3. Compas BE. Depression in children and adolescents. In: Mash EJ, Terdal LG, eds. Assessment of childhood disorders. New York: Guilford Press; 1997. pp 127-229.
4. Fleming JE, Offord DR. Epidemiology of childhood depressive disorders: a critical review. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1990;29:571-80.
5. Petersen AC, Compas BE, Brooks-Gunn J, et al. Depression in adolescence. Am Psychol 1993;48:155-68.
6. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2000.
7. Costello EJ, Mustillo S, Erkanli A, et al. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence. 2003;60:837-44.
8. Wade TJ, Cairney J, Pevalin DJ. Emergence of gender differences in depression during adolescence: national panel results from three countries. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2002;41:190-8.
9. Cole DA, Martin JM, Peeke LA, et al. Children’s over- and underestimation of academic competence: a longitudinal study of gender differences, depression, and anxiety. Child Dev 1999;70:459-73.
10. Lewinsohn PM, Rohde P, Seeley JR, Fischer SA. Age-cohort changes in the lifetime occurence of depression and other mental disorders. J Abn Psychol 1993;102:110-20.
11. Hankin BL. Adolescent depression: description, causes, and interventions. Epilepsy Behav 2006;8:102-14.
12. Lewinsohn PM, Moerk KC, Klein DN. Epidemiology of adolescent depression. Econom Neurosci 2000;2:52-68.
13. Petersen AC, Sarigiani PA, Kennedy RE, Adolescent depression: why more girls? J Youth Adolesc 1991;20:247-71.
14. Nolen-Hoeksema S, Girgus JS. The emergence of gender differences in depression during adolescence. Psychol Bull 1994;115:424-43.
15. Wichstrom L, The emergence of gender difference in depressed mood during adolescence: the role of intensified gender socialization. Dev Psychol 1999;35:232-45.
16. Twenge JM, Nolen-Hoeksema S. Age, gender, race, socioeconomic status and birth cohort difference on the children’s depression inventory: a meta-analysis. J Abn Psychol 2002;111:578-88.
17. King CA, Katz SH, Ghaziuddin N, et al. Diagnosis and assessment of depression and suicidality using the NIMH diagnostic interview schedule for children (DISC-2.3). J Abnorm Child Psychol 1997;25:173-81.
18. Chatzidimou S. Depression in adolescence: an epidemiological approach, in School of Philosophy. PhD dissertation. Faculty of Philosophy, Pedagogy and Psychology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 1997.
19. Spear LP. The adolescent brain and age-related behavioral manifestations. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2000:417-63.
20. Madianos MG, Gefou-Madianou D, Stefanis CN. Depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior among general population adolescents and young adutls across Greece. Eur Psychiatry 1993;8:139-46.
21. Brooks-Gunn J, Warren MP. Biological and social contributions to negative affect in young adolescent girls. Child Dev 1989;60:40-55.
22. Hankin BL, Abramson LY. Development of gender differences in depression: description and possible explanations. Ann Med 1999;31:372-9.
23. Cicchetti D, Rogosch FA. A developmental psychopathology perspective on adolescence. J Consult Clin Psychol 2002;70:6-20.
24. Knopf D, Park J, Mulye T. The mental health of adolescents: a national profile. National Adolescent Health Information Center, University of California, San Francisco, 2008.
25. Larson RW, Moneta G, Richards MH, Wilson S. Continuity, stability, and change in daily emotional experience across adolescence. Child Dev 2002;73:1151-65.
26. Zahn-Waxler C, Klimes-Dougan B, Slattery MJ. Internalizing problems of childhood and adolescence: prospects, pitfalls, and progress in understanding the development of anxiety and depression. Dev Psychopathol 2001;12:443-66.
27. Dunn V, Goodyer IM. Longitudinal investigation into childhood- and adolescence-onset depression: psychiatric outcome in early adulthood. Br J Psychiatry 2006;188:216-22.