Are Adolescent Girls More Depressive than Adolescent Boys in Turkey?
Depression is a serious mental health problem that
affects people of all ages, including children and adolescents. Studies
showed that female gender is one of the risk factors may influence
the development of depression in adolescents. However, some of the
studies from Turkey suggested that gender does not lead to any
significant difference in the youth depression level. Therefore, the
presented study investigated whether girls differ from boys in respect
of depression. The association between genders and test scores for
the adolescents in a population of primary and secondary school
students was also evaluated. The study was consisting of 254
adolescents (122 boys and 132 girls) with a mean age of 13.86±1.43
(Mean±SD) ranging from 12-16 years. Psychological assessment was
performed using Children-s Depression Inventory (CDI). Chi-square
and Student-s t-test statistics were employed to analyze the data. The
mean of the CDI scores of the girls were higher than boys- CDI
scores (t = -4.580, p = 0.001). Higher ratio appeared for the girls
when they compared with boy group-s depression levels using a CDI
cut-off point of 19 (p = 0.001, Odds Ratio = 2,603). The findings of
the present study suggested that adolescent girls have high level of
depression than adolescent boys aged between 12-16 years in
Turkey. Although some studies reported that there is no any
differences depression level between adolescent boys and girls in
Turkey, result of the present study showed that adolescent girls have
high level of depression than adolescent boys in Turkey.
[1] A.C. Petersen, B.E. Compas, J. Brooks-Gunn, M. Stemmler, S. Ey, and
K.E. Grant, "Depression in adolescence," Am. Psychol. Vol. 48, pp.
155-168, 1993.
[2] B.L. Hankin, "Adolescent depression: Description, causes, and
interventions," Epilepsy. Behav., Vol. 8, pp. 102-114, 2006.
[3] B. Weiss, and J. Garber, "Developmental differences in the
phenomenology of depression," Dev. Psychopathol., Vol. 15, pp. 403-
430, 2003.
[4] D. Cicchetti, and S.L. Toth, "The development of depression in children
and adolescents" Am. Psychol., Vol. 53, pp. 221-241, 1998.
[5] S.H. Kataoka, L. Zhang, and K.B. Wells, "Unmet need for mental health
care among U.S. children: variation by ethnicity and insurance status,"
Am. J. Psychiatry., Vol. 159, pp. 1548-1555, 2002.
[6] J. Kim-Cohen, A. Caspi, T.E. Moffitt, H. Harrington, B.J. Milne, and R.
Poulton, "Prior juvenile diagnoses in adults with mental disorder:
developmental follow-back of a prospective-longitudinal cohort," Arch.
Gen. Psychiatry., Vol. 60, pp. 709-717, 2003.
[7] P.M. Lewinsohn, P. Rohde, J.R. Seeley, D.N. Klein, and I.H. Gotlib,
"Natural course of adolescent major depressive disorder in a community
sample: predictors of recurrence in young adults," Am. J. Psychiatry.,
Vol. 157, pp. 1584-1591, 2000.
[8] M. Kovacs, "The Children's Depression Inventory (CDI),"
Psychopharmacol. Bull., Vol. 21, pp. 995-998, 1985.
[9] B. Oy, "├çocuklar i├ºin depresyon öl├ºe─ƒi: Ge├ºerlik ve g├╝venirlik
çalışması. [Depression rating scale for children: Validity and reliability
study]," Turk Psikiyatri. Derg. Vol. 2, 132-137, 1991.
[10] P. Gilbert, and S. Allan, "Assertiveness, submissive behaviour and social
comparison," Br. J. Clin. Psychol., Vol. 33, pp. 295-306, 1994.
[11] L.E. O'Connor, J.W. Berry, J. Weiss, and P. Gilbert, "Guilt, fear,
submission, and empathy in depression," J. Affect. Disord. Vol. 71, pp.
19-27, 2002.
[12] F. Toros, N.G. Bilgin, T. Sasmaz, R. Bugdayci, and H. Camdeviren,
"Suicide attempts and risk factors among children and adolescents,"
Yonsei. Med. J., Vol. 45, pp. 367-374, 2004.
[13] F. Toros, N.G. Bilgin, R. Bugdayci, T. Sasmaz, O. Kurt, and H.
Camdeviren, "Prevalence of depression as measured by the CBDI in a
predominantly adolescent school population in Turkey," Eur.
Psychiatry., Vol. 19, pp. 264-271, 2004.
[14] B. Kirkcaldy, G. Siefen, and A. Furnham, "Gender, anxiety-depressivity
and self-image among adolescents," Eur. Psychiatry. Vol. 18, pp. 50-58,
2003.
[15] A.S. T├╝rk├╝m, "Do optimism, social network richness, and submissive
behaviors predict well-being? Study with a Turkish sample," Soc. Behav.
Pers., Vol. 33, pp. 619-628, 2005.
[16] E. Ceyhan, A.A. Ceyhan, and Y. Kurtyilmaz, "Depression among
Turkish female and male university students," Soc. Behav. Pers. Vol. 33,
pp. 329-339, 2005.
[17] H. Camdeviren, M. Mendes, M.M. Ozkan, F. Toros, T. Sasmaz, and S.
Oner, "Determination of depression risk factors in children and
adolescents by regression tree methodology," Acta. Med. Okayama.,
Vol. 59, 19-26, 2005.
[18] S. Kutcher, V. Kusumakar, J. LeBlanc, D. Santor, D. Lagace, and R.
Morehouse, "The characteristics of asymptomatic female adolescents at
high risk for depression: the baseline assessment from a prospective 8-
year study," J. Affect. Disord., Vol. 79, pp. 177-185, 2004.
[19] D.L. Franko, and R.H. Striegel-Moore, "The role of body dissatisfaction
as a risk factor for depression in adolescent girls: are the differences
Black and White?," J. Psychosom. Res. Vol. 53, pp. 975-983, 2002.
[20] D.S. Pine, P. Cohen, and J. Brook, "Adolescent fears as predictors of
depression," Biol. Psychiatry., Vol. 50, pp. 721-724, 2001.
[21] M. Piccinelli, and G. Wilkinson, "Gender differences in depression.
Critical review," Br. J. Psychiatry., Vol. 177, 486-492, 2000.
[22] P.K. Schraedley, I.H. Gotlib, and C. Hayward, "Gender differences in
correlates of depressive symptoms in adolescents" J. Adolesc. Health.,
Vol. 25, pp. 98-108, 1999.
[23] H. Odaci, "Depression, submissive behaviors and negative automatic
thoughts in obese Turkish adolescents," Soc. Behav. Pers., Vol. 35, 409-
416, 2007.
[24] S. Erermis, N. Cetin, M. Tamar, N. Bukusoglu, F. Akdeniz, and D.
Goksen, "Is obesity a risk factor for psychopathology among
adolescents?" Pediatr. Int.,Vol. 46, 296-301, 2004.
[25] R.C. Kessler, K.A. McGonagle, S. Zhao, C.B. Nelson, M. Hughes, S.
Eshleman, H.U. Wittchen, and K.S. Kendler, "Lifetime and 12-month
prevalence of DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders in the United States.
Results from the National Comorbidity Survey," Arch. Gen. Psychiatry.,
Vol. 51, 8-19, 1994.
[26] J.J Breton, L. Bergeron, J.P. Valla, C. Berthiaume, N. Gaudet, J.
Lambert, M. St-Georges, L. Houde, and S. Lépine, "Quebec child mental
health survey: prevalence of DSM-III-R mental health disorders," Child.
Psychol. Psychiatry. Vol. 40, pp. 375-384, 1999.
[27] F. Toros, "Risk factors of depression in childhood and adolescence," T.
Klin. J. Psychiatry. Vol. 3, pp. 75-79, 2002.
[28] Y. Taner, "Depression in children and adolescents," Turkiye Klinikleri
J. Int. Med. Sci. Vol. 3, pp. 41-45, 2007.
[29] H. Çiftçi, E. Yıldız, S.M. Mercanlıgil, "Depression and nutrition
therapy," Turkiye Klinikleri J. Med. Sci. Vol. 28, pp. 369-377, 2008.
[1] A.C. Petersen, B.E. Compas, J. Brooks-Gunn, M. Stemmler, S. Ey, and
K.E. Grant, "Depression in adolescence," Am. Psychol. Vol. 48, pp.
155-168, 1993.
[2] B.L. Hankin, "Adolescent depression: Description, causes, and
interventions," Epilepsy. Behav., Vol. 8, pp. 102-114, 2006.
[3] B. Weiss, and J. Garber, "Developmental differences in the
phenomenology of depression," Dev. Psychopathol., Vol. 15, pp. 403-
430, 2003.
[4] D. Cicchetti, and S.L. Toth, "The development of depression in children
and adolescents" Am. Psychol., Vol. 53, pp. 221-241, 1998.
[5] S.H. Kataoka, L. Zhang, and K.B. Wells, "Unmet need for mental health
care among U.S. children: variation by ethnicity and insurance status,"
Am. J. Psychiatry., Vol. 159, pp. 1548-1555, 2002.
[6] J. Kim-Cohen, A. Caspi, T.E. Moffitt, H. Harrington, B.J. Milne, and R.
Poulton, "Prior juvenile diagnoses in adults with mental disorder:
developmental follow-back of a prospective-longitudinal cohort," Arch.
Gen. Psychiatry., Vol. 60, pp. 709-717, 2003.
[7] P.M. Lewinsohn, P. Rohde, J.R. Seeley, D.N. Klein, and I.H. Gotlib,
"Natural course of adolescent major depressive disorder in a community
sample: predictors of recurrence in young adults," Am. J. Psychiatry.,
Vol. 157, pp. 1584-1591, 2000.
[8] M. Kovacs, "The Children's Depression Inventory (CDI),"
Psychopharmacol. Bull., Vol. 21, pp. 995-998, 1985.
[9] B. Oy, "├çocuklar i├ºin depresyon öl├ºe─ƒi: Ge├ºerlik ve g├╝venirlik
çalışması. [Depression rating scale for children: Validity and reliability
study]," Turk Psikiyatri. Derg. Vol. 2, 132-137, 1991.
[10] P. Gilbert, and S. Allan, "Assertiveness, submissive behaviour and social
comparison," Br. J. Clin. Psychol., Vol. 33, pp. 295-306, 1994.
[11] L.E. O'Connor, J.W. Berry, J. Weiss, and P. Gilbert, "Guilt, fear,
submission, and empathy in depression," J. Affect. Disord. Vol. 71, pp.
19-27, 2002.
[12] F. Toros, N.G. Bilgin, T. Sasmaz, R. Bugdayci, and H. Camdeviren,
"Suicide attempts and risk factors among children and adolescents,"
Yonsei. Med. J., Vol. 45, pp. 367-374, 2004.
[13] F. Toros, N.G. Bilgin, R. Bugdayci, T. Sasmaz, O. Kurt, and H.
Camdeviren, "Prevalence of depression as measured by the CBDI in a
predominantly adolescent school population in Turkey," Eur.
Psychiatry., Vol. 19, pp. 264-271, 2004.
[14] B. Kirkcaldy, G. Siefen, and A. Furnham, "Gender, anxiety-depressivity
and self-image among adolescents," Eur. Psychiatry. Vol. 18, pp. 50-58,
2003.
[15] A.S. T├╝rk├╝m, "Do optimism, social network richness, and submissive
behaviors predict well-being? Study with a Turkish sample," Soc. Behav.
Pers., Vol. 33, pp. 619-628, 2005.
[16] E. Ceyhan, A.A. Ceyhan, and Y. Kurtyilmaz, "Depression among
Turkish female and male university students," Soc. Behav. Pers. Vol. 33,
pp. 329-339, 2005.
[17] H. Camdeviren, M. Mendes, M.M. Ozkan, F. Toros, T. Sasmaz, and S.
Oner, "Determination of depression risk factors in children and
adolescents by regression tree methodology," Acta. Med. Okayama.,
Vol. 59, 19-26, 2005.
[18] S. Kutcher, V. Kusumakar, J. LeBlanc, D. Santor, D. Lagace, and R.
Morehouse, "The characteristics of asymptomatic female adolescents at
high risk for depression: the baseline assessment from a prospective 8-
year study," J. Affect. Disord., Vol. 79, pp. 177-185, 2004.
[19] D.L. Franko, and R.H. Striegel-Moore, "The role of body dissatisfaction
as a risk factor for depression in adolescent girls: are the differences
Black and White?," J. Psychosom. Res. Vol. 53, pp. 975-983, 2002.
[20] D.S. Pine, P. Cohen, and J. Brook, "Adolescent fears as predictors of
depression," Biol. Psychiatry., Vol. 50, pp. 721-724, 2001.
[21] M. Piccinelli, and G. Wilkinson, "Gender differences in depression.
Critical review," Br. J. Psychiatry., Vol. 177, 486-492, 2000.
[22] P.K. Schraedley, I.H. Gotlib, and C. Hayward, "Gender differences in
correlates of depressive symptoms in adolescents" J. Adolesc. Health.,
Vol. 25, pp. 98-108, 1999.
[23] H. Odaci, "Depression, submissive behaviors and negative automatic
thoughts in obese Turkish adolescents," Soc. Behav. Pers., Vol. 35, 409-
416, 2007.
[24] S. Erermis, N. Cetin, M. Tamar, N. Bukusoglu, F. Akdeniz, and D.
Goksen, "Is obesity a risk factor for psychopathology among
adolescents?" Pediatr. Int.,Vol. 46, 296-301, 2004.
[25] R.C. Kessler, K.A. McGonagle, S. Zhao, C.B. Nelson, M. Hughes, S.
Eshleman, H.U. Wittchen, and K.S. Kendler, "Lifetime and 12-month
prevalence of DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders in the United States.
Results from the National Comorbidity Survey," Arch. Gen. Psychiatry.,
Vol. 51, 8-19, 1994.
[26] J.J Breton, L. Bergeron, J.P. Valla, C. Berthiaume, N. Gaudet, J.
Lambert, M. St-Georges, L. Houde, and S. Lépine, "Quebec child mental
health survey: prevalence of DSM-III-R mental health disorders," Child.
Psychol. Psychiatry. Vol. 40, pp. 375-384, 1999.
[27] F. Toros, "Risk factors of depression in childhood and adolescence," T.
Klin. J. Psychiatry. Vol. 3, pp. 75-79, 2002.
[28] Y. Taner, "Depression in children and adolescents," Turkiye Klinikleri
J. Int. Med. Sci. Vol. 3, pp. 41-45, 2007.
[29] H. Çiftçi, E. Yıldız, S.M. Mercanlıgil, "Depression and nutrition
therapy," Turkiye Klinikleri J. Med. Sci. Vol. 28, pp. 369-377, 2008.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:64223", author = "Hatice Odacı", title = "Are Adolescent Girls More Depressive than Adolescent Boys in Turkey?", abstract = "Depression is a serious mental health problem that
affects people of all ages, including children and adolescents. Studies
showed that female gender is one of the risk factors may influence
the development of depression in adolescents. However, some of the
studies from Turkey suggested that gender does not lead to any
significant difference in the youth depression level. Therefore, the
presented study investigated whether girls differ from boys in respect
of depression. The association between genders and test scores for
the adolescents in a population of primary and secondary school
students was also evaluated. The study was consisting of 254
adolescents (122 boys and 132 girls) with a mean age of 13.86±1.43
(Mean±SD) ranging from 12-16 years. Psychological assessment was
performed using Children-s Depression Inventory (CDI). Chi-square
and Student-s t-test statistics were employed to analyze the data. The
mean of the CDI scores of the girls were higher than boys- CDI
scores (t = -4.580, p = 0.001). Higher ratio appeared for the girls
when they compared with boy group-s depression levels using a CDI
cut-off point of 19 (p = 0.001, Odds Ratio = 2,603). The findings of
the present study suggested that adolescent girls have high level of
depression than adolescent boys aged between 12-16 years in
Turkey. Although some studies reported that there is no any
differences depression level between adolescent boys and girls in
Turkey, result of the present study showed that adolescent girls have
high level of depression than adolescent boys in Turkey.", keywords = "Depression, Adolescent, Turkey, Female Gender,Male Gender.", volume = "5", number = "9", pages = "1201-4", }
