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Risk Factors for Depression Among Adolescents in Secondary Schools in Kakamega County, Kenya

Received: 12 July 2023     Accepted: 31 July 2023     Published: 15 August 2023
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Abstract

Background: Depression is the third leading public health concern and second leading cause of death for adolescents. Risk factors for depression varies among adults, youth and children. This paper specifically identified the risk factors for depression among adolescents. An analytical methodology was adopted. Quantitative methods of data collection were used. An Adolescent Sociodemographic questionnaire was used for data collection. Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 27 was used for analysis. The risk factors were grouped as psychosocial, biomedical, and school-related. Findings showed that the significant risk factor for depression among adolescents were age, level of study, school category, being orphaned, parental marital status, and socio-economic status of parents. The significant biomedical factors were having HIV, anxiety and alcoholism, while the school-related predictors were difficulty in concentrating in school and difficulties with the school rules and regulations. Depression among adolescents may be predicted by a myriad of factors. The study recommends frequent screening of depression among adolescents with comorbidities for detection and action. Social support programs may target orphans, adolescents from lower social classes and those from single parents. Students and school social support groups may be trained on social support for each other.

Published in American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 12, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajap.20231204.13
Page(s) 96-102
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Adolescents, Depression, Risk Factors, Secondary Schools

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Grace Buluma Bakesia, Olayo Nereah Rose, Gladys Jepkorir Mengich, Rose Atieno Opiyo. (2023). Risk Factors for Depression Among Adolescents in Secondary Schools in Kakamega County, Kenya. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 12(4), 96-102. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20231204.13

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    ACS Style

    Grace Buluma Bakesia; Olayo Nereah Rose; Gladys Jepkorir Mengich; Rose Atieno Opiyo. Risk Factors for Depression Among Adolescents in Secondary Schools in Kakamega County, Kenya. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2023, 12(4), 96-102. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20231204.13

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    AMA Style

    Grace Buluma Bakesia, Olayo Nereah Rose, Gladys Jepkorir Mengich, Rose Atieno Opiyo. Risk Factors for Depression Among Adolescents in Secondary Schools in Kakamega County, Kenya. Am J Appl Psychol. 2023;12(4):96-102. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20231204.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajap.20231204.13,
      author = {Grace Buluma Bakesia and Olayo Nereah Rose and Gladys Jepkorir Mengich and Rose Atieno Opiyo},
      title = {Risk Factors for Depression Among Adolescents in Secondary Schools in Kakamega County, Kenya},
      journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
      volume = {12},
      number = {4},
      pages = {96-102},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20231204.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20231204.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20231204.13},
      abstract = {Background: Depression is the third leading public health concern and second leading cause of death for adolescents. Risk factors for depression varies among adults, youth and children. This paper specifically identified the risk factors for depression among adolescents. An analytical methodology was adopted. Quantitative methods of data collection were used. An Adolescent Sociodemographic questionnaire was used for data collection. Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 27 was used for analysis. The risk factors were grouped as psychosocial, biomedical, and school-related. Findings showed that the significant risk factor for depression among adolescents were age, level of study, school category, being orphaned, parental marital status, and socio-economic status of parents. The significant biomedical factors were having HIV, anxiety and alcoholism, while the school-related predictors were difficulty in concentrating in school and difficulties with the school rules and regulations. Depression among adolescents may be predicted by a myriad of factors. The study recommends frequent screening of depression among adolescents with comorbidities for detection and action. Social support programs may target orphans, adolescents from lower social classes and those from single parents. Students and school social support groups may be trained on social support for each other.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Risk Factors for Depression Among Adolescents in Secondary Schools in Kakamega County, Kenya
    AU  - Grace Buluma Bakesia
    AU  - Olayo Nereah Rose
    AU  - Gladys Jepkorir Mengich
    AU  - Rose Atieno Opiyo
    Y1  - 2023/08/15
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20231204.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajap.20231204.13
    T2  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
    JF  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
    JO  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
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    EP  - 102
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5672
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20231204.13
    AB  - Background: Depression is the third leading public health concern and second leading cause of death for adolescents. Risk factors for depression varies among adults, youth and children. This paper specifically identified the risk factors for depression among adolescents. An analytical methodology was adopted. Quantitative methods of data collection were used. An Adolescent Sociodemographic questionnaire was used for data collection. Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 27 was used for analysis. The risk factors were grouped as psychosocial, biomedical, and school-related. Findings showed that the significant risk factor for depression among adolescents were age, level of study, school category, being orphaned, parental marital status, and socio-economic status of parents. The significant biomedical factors were having HIV, anxiety and alcoholism, while the school-related predictors were difficulty in concentrating in school and difficulties with the school rules and regulations. Depression among adolescents may be predicted by a myriad of factors. The study recommends frequent screening of depression among adolescents with comorbidities for detection and action. Social support programs may target orphans, adolescents from lower social classes and those from single parents. Students and school social support groups may be trained on social support for each other.
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Public Health, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya

  • Department of Public Health, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya

  • Department of Health Professions Education, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya

  • Department of Educational Psychology, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya

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