Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Jamaican adolescents and examine its association with individual and family factors. We used an abbreviated form of the Beck's Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) to assess depressive symptoms among 748 students, attending public high schools in the parish of Hanover Jamaica. In the analysis, we classified adolescents with scores in the upper quartile of the depressive symptom score as having depressive symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of depressive symptoms. 14.2% of participants reported depressive symptoms. There was association between engagement in sexual activity [Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.61, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.02-2.51], parental monitoring of adolescent activity (OR=2.04, 95%CI=1.33 -3.12), maternal affection and support (OR= 4.07, 95%CI= 2.62-6.33), and paternal affection and support (OR= 1.58, 95%CI= 1.05-2.39) with self reported depressive symptoms at the bivariate level. In the final model, depressive symptoms was associated with perceived lack of maternal affection and support (OR= 4.06, 95%CI= 2.61-6.32) and showed marginal association with being sexually experienced (OR= 1.59, 95%CI= 1.00-2.52). As most homes are female-headed, establishing support systems for the mother to take care of their adolescent children may decrease the odds of depressive symptoms. Sexually experienced adolescents may require screening for depression. Further research is required to fully explore all factors that could predispose Jamaican adolescents to depression.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 567-576 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | TheScientificWorldJournal [electronic resource] |
| Volume | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Depressive symptoms
- Maternal affection and support
- Sexual experience
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Environmental Science(all)
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among high school students in Hanover, Jamaica. / Ekundayo, Olaniyi J.; Dodson-Stallworth, Joana; Roofe, Michele; Aban, Inmaculada B.; Kempf, Mirjam C.; Ehiri, John E; Jolly, Pauline E.
In: TheScientificWorldJournal [electronic resource], Vol. 7, 01.05.2007, p. 567-576.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among high school students in Hanover, Jamaica
AU - Ekundayo, Olaniyi J.
AU - Dodson-Stallworth, Joana
AU - Roofe, Michele
AU - Aban, Inmaculada B.
AU - Kempf, Mirjam C.
AU - Ehiri, John E
AU - Jolly, Pauline E.
PY - 2007/5/1
Y1 - 2007/5/1
N2 - The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Jamaican adolescents and examine its association with individual and family factors. We used an abbreviated form of the Beck's Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) to assess depressive symptoms among 748 students, attending public high schools in the parish of Hanover Jamaica. In the analysis, we classified adolescents with scores in the upper quartile of the depressive symptom score as having depressive symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of depressive symptoms. 14.2% of participants reported depressive symptoms. There was association between engagement in sexual activity [Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.61, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.02-2.51], parental monitoring of adolescent activity (OR=2.04, 95%CI=1.33 -3.12), maternal affection and support (OR= 4.07, 95%CI= 2.62-6.33), and paternal affection and support (OR= 1.58, 95%CI= 1.05-2.39) with self reported depressive symptoms at the bivariate level. In the final model, depressive symptoms was associated with perceived lack of maternal affection and support (OR= 4.06, 95%CI= 2.61-6.32) and showed marginal association with being sexually experienced (OR= 1.59, 95%CI= 1.00-2.52). As most homes are female-headed, establishing support systems for the mother to take care of their adolescent children may decrease the odds of depressive symptoms. Sexually experienced adolescents may require screening for depression. Further research is required to fully explore all factors that could predispose Jamaican adolescents to depression.
AB - The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Jamaican adolescents and examine its association with individual and family factors. We used an abbreviated form of the Beck's Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) to assess depressive symptoms among 748 students, attending public high schools in the parish of Hanover Jamaica. In the analysis, we classified adolescents with scores in the upper quartile of the depressive symptom score as having depressive symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of depressive symptoms. 14.2% of participants reported depressive symptoms. There was association between engagement in sexual activity [Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.61, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.02-2.51], parental monitoring of adolescent activity (OR=2.04, 95%CI=1.33 -3.12), maternal affection and support (OR= 4.07, 95%CI= 2.62-6.33), and paternal affection and support (OR= 1.58, 95%CI= 1.05-2.39) with self reported depressive symptoms at the bivariate level. In the final model, depressive symptoms was associated with perceived lack of maternal affection and support (OR= 4.06, 95%CI= 2.61-6.32) and showed marginal association with being sexually experienced (OR= 1.59, 95%CI= 1.00-2.52). As most homes are female-headed, establishing support systems for the mother to take care of their adolescent children may decrease the odds of depressive symptoms. Sexually experienced adolescents may require screening for depression. Further research is required to fully explore all factors that could predispose Jamaican adolescents to depression.
KW - Depressive symptoms
KW - Maternal affection and support
KW - Sexual experience
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34247599751&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34247599751&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1100/tsw.2007.104
DO - 10.1100/tsw.2007.104
M3 - Article
C2 - 17525821
AN - SCOPUS:34247599751
VL - 7
SP - 567
EP - 576
JO - The Scientific World Journal
JF - The Scientific World Journal
SN - 1537-744X
ER -