Abstract
Objectives: Secondary school girls, ages 15 – 19 yrs were surveyed to find out the coping strategies they used when stressed. Adolescents, who are affected with stress and depression early in life, suffer from depression throughout their lives especially if they are utilizing improper ways to cope with it. Methods: A cross sectional school based survey among 1028 adolescent girls was conducted among the secondary schools in Riyadh city,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Results: About 25% stated that they cry, 19% listen to music, 15% start eating a lot, 12% sit alone/isolate themselves, 11% pray/read the Quran, 10% get into a verbal argument or a fight. Only a few, 3% exercise, and 2% stated that they find someone to discuss and talk to. Conclusion: Majority of the adolescent girls in our survey, rely on emotion related coping mechanisms rather than problem solving mechanisms. This can cause long term implications in these adolescents as there is an increased probability to develop depression later on in life. Policy makers need to implement strategies for early identification of stress and depression. Talking to friends and family can serve as an effective way to cope with stress.
Highlights
In 2011, the State of World Children, UNICEF reported that around 20 per cent of the world’s adolescents have a mental health or behavioral problem
Depression in adolescents can be related to multiple factors, biological, cognitive and environmental, Terje A et al proposed and researched a stress-depression model, which states that the environmental or social stressors are likely to be moderated by an individual’s coping styles.[5]
Interviews were conducted with 1028 adolescent girls
Summary
In 2011, the State of World Children, UNICEF reported that around 20 per cent of the world’s adolescents have a mental health or behavioral problem. Costello in 2006, that in UK, at any given point in time approximately 4 – 6% of adolescents ages 13 – 17 are clinically depressed.[2]. Research studies report that those adolescents who are affected with depression early in life, often suffer from depression throughout their lives and in many cases, early onset of depression predicts severe depression later during adulthood.[3,4] Other than an increase in suicidal tendency, youth who are depressed are at a higher risk of mental disorders such as anxiety, conduct disorders, and substance abuse.[3,4] depression in adolescents can be related to multiple factors, biological, cognitive and environmental, Terje A et al proposed and researched a stress-depression model, which states that the environmental or social stressors are likely to be moderated by an individual’s coping styles.[5]
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