Depressive Symptoms and Its Associated Factors in 13-Year-Old Urban Adolescents

Abstract

The available estimates reveal that 20–50% of adolescents report depressive symptoms, being one of the most prevalent health problems in adolescence. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a community sample of 13-year-old adolescents and identify associated features. Thirteen year-old adolescents attending private and public schools in Porto (n = 1,988, 52.2% females) were evaluated from October 2003 to June 2004 and completed a questionnaire including health behaviors and the Beck Depression Inventory II. A questionnaire on parents’ socio-demographics and clinical characteristics was sent home. Data were analyzed separately by sex. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 18.8% in girls and 7.6% in boys (p < 0.001). Boys with a family history of depression and girls with smoking habits had a significantly increased risk of depressive symptoms (OR = 2.18, 95%CI 1.00–4.71; OR = 2.34, 95%CI 1.46–3.76). Menarche at an early age significantly increased the risk of depressive symptoms. The characteristics most strongly associated with depressive symptoms were family history of depression among boys, tobacco consumption and an early age at menarche among girls. The high prevalence of depressive symptoms early in adolescence calls for the awareness of public health professionals.

Depression and Individuals with Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review

“…Depressive disorders at adulthood has a precursor from tender age most especially during adolescence [20,21]. Kim-Cohen et al [22] in their study among 1,037 who were followed for 26 years found that only 25% of their participant experienced depression at adulthood while 75% of adults who met criteria for major depression, had earlier experienced depressive disorder in childhood or adolescence.…”

The social gradient in stress and depressive symptoms among adolescent girls: A systematic review and narrative synthesis

“…Three studies measured educational level in parents as a separate measure (5,33,35), whereby only one of them (35) found a significant association between parental education and depressive symptoms among girls. Two studies measured Family Affluence Scale (FAS) (16,34), whereby only one found a significant association between FAS and depressive symptoms (16).…”

“…Four studies included parental education as a SES measure; Bulhões et al (33) and Frojd et al (5) did not find a significant social gradient, while Gore et al (35) and Torikka et al (17) found a significant social gradient. Gore et al (35) used the Center for Epidemiologic Studies' Depression Scale (CES-D), with a cut-off score of 24 that indicated clinical depression for adolescent girls.…”

“…When studies included more than one SES measure the results were split into several lines to see the separate effects of each measure. The choice to (33).…”

“…However, the three studies were operating with diffe-rent cut-offs. Bulhões et al (33) and Frojd et al 5, who did not find a significant gradient, used cut-offs that merged, respectively, mild, moderate and severe symptoms and moderate and severe symptoms. Whilst Torikka et al (17), who found a significant gradient between low and high education, operated with three different cut-offs and provided a separate analysis for each level (mild, moderate, severe) of symptoms.…”