Depressive symptoms in adolescents in Kuching, Malaysia: Prevalence and associated factors

Abstract

Background: The trend of depression is rising worldwide. There are limited studies on depression in adolescents. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of and identify the factors associated with depressive symptoms in adolescents in Kuching, Malaysia, and to analyze the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 320 students from urban and rural secondary schools. The participants were randomly selected via multi-stage sampling. They completed the Malay versions of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS). Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 26.2%. On binary logistic regression analysis, variables with significant association with depressive symptoms were race (P = 0.028), type of class (P < 0.001), mother's education level (P = 0.036), type of housing (P = 0.036), parents' marital status (P = 0.012), alcohol intake (P = 0.005), stealing (P < 0.001) and history of disciplinary record (P = 0.005). Variables that remained significant on multivariable logistic regression were type of class (P = 0.004), parents' marital status (P = 0.017) and stealing (P < 0.001). Students from the Arts stream (OR, 2.43) with parents who were separated, divorced or widowed (OR, 3.13) and who had experience of stealing (OR, 3.27) were predicted to be at risk of developing depressive symptoms. There was a significant correlation between total CDI score and total BSS score (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in adolescents was high. Depressive symptoms are significantly correlated with suicidal ideation. Greater collaboration between the education and health agencies is essential for mental health promotion in schools and early detection of depression, especially in at-risk adolescents.

The state of psychiatric research in the Asia Pacific region

“…Park, Oh, et al, 2019; Zhong et al, 2019), electroconvulsive therapy, validations of translated scales (C.‐S. Ang, 2020; Cheung, Yeo, Chong, Khoo, & Wee, 2019; Din et al, 2019; Khairani, Ahmad, Ismail, & Aman, 2020; N. T. P. Pang, Kamu, et al, 2020), stigma (Ibrahim, Amit, et al, 2019; Sun et al, 2019) and child and adolescent psychiatry (Adib et al, 2019a, 2019b; A. L. Ang, Wahab, Abd Rahman, Hazmi, & Md Yusoff, 2019; Chhoa et al, 2019; Ibrahim, Amit, et al, 2019; Ibrahim, Che Din, et al, 2019; Ramachandram, 2019). These studies reflect the local differences in cultural, language, and resource availability that renders the practice of psychiatry in this region unique when compared with others.…”

Being Bullied Is Associated With Depression Among Malaysian Adolescents: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Study in Malaysia

“…10 A previous study in Sarawak has also reported similar findings, whereby the prevalence of adolescents with depressive symptoms was higher among adolescents with divorced parents. 11 Being bullied might result in psychosomatic complaints among adolescents. 12 About 25.2% of students in Korea reported a lifetime history of being bullied and half of them were diagnosed with depression.…”

“…10 A previous study in Sarawak has also reported similar findings, whereby the prevalence of adolescents with depressive symptoms was higher among adolescents with divorced parents. 11…”

Prevalência, severidade e fatores associados à depressão em estudantes universitários

“…Além disso, este instrumento é utilizado para indicar depressão maior, quando a pontuação total fica igual ou superior a 10 pontos (18)(19)25) .…”

“…Tendo em vista, a alta prevalência da depressão no mundo (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) e o seu impacto negativo, em múltiplos aspectos da vida, em especial, na da população universitária (18)(19)(20) , acredita-se que, a identificação precoce da doença, sua gravidade e seus fatores associados, são cruciais para o reconhecimento do impacto dessa enfermidade pela população, pelos profissionais de saúde e pelos órgãos governamentais, responsáveis pela gestão de políticas públicas de saúde, de modo a estimular a reflexão acerca da temática e instigar o desenvolvimento de estratégias/ações voltadas para prevenção da doença e para a promoção de saúde mental, a exemplo, no âmbito universitário (13,(21)(22)(23)(24) . Assim, objetiva-se com este estudo, identificar a prevalência, a severidade e os fatores associados à depressão, em estudantes de uma Instituição de Ensino Superior (IES) privada no Distrito Federal.…”