Investigation and Analysis of Influential Factors on Junior Adolescent Depression

Objective: To explore the prevalence of depression in junior students and its relationship with potential psychological and environmental factors. Method:Depressive symptoms, self-esteem, life events, social support, family cohesion and conflict were investigated with self-report questionnaire in 300 junior students, the relationship between depression and other psychological or environmental factors were analyzed through stepwise regression. Results:The prevalence of depression in junior high students was 11%. Among the 5 investigated psychological and environmental factors, self-esteem and social support were negatively related with depression (standardized regression coefficient were -0.59 and -0.14), while life events positively related with it(standardized regression coefficient was 0.26). Only and another factors covering the item do not want to go to school showed a negative association with the students' self-esteem among the 6 factors included in the life events questionnaire (standardized regression coefficient were -0.149 and -0.13).Conclusion: Depression is common among junior students. Poor self-esteem, lack of social support and negative life events are currently related with the development of adolescent depression. The pressure and failing experiences coming from academic activities are the most influential life events to the development of adolescents' self-esteem.