The prevalence of depression in high school students
Ehrenberg, M.F.; Cox, D.N.; Koopman, R.F.
Adolescence 25(100): 905-912
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-8449 PMID: 2275445 Document Number: 365943
In response to the need expressed in the literature on adolescent depression, recent studies have examined the incidence of affective disorders. However, there continues to be a paucity of research on the prevalence of depressive symptomatology in nonpatient adolescents. The Canadian literature is especially lacking in this area. The present study examined the prevalence of depression in a sample of 366 Canadian high school students. Consistent with similar research in the United Kingdom and the United States, 31.4% of the sample were midly to clinically depressed as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory. Significant sex differences were found; these are discussed in the context of age and level of depression. The need for further research on adolescent depression is emphasized.