International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience
Open Access

Depression is a disease that affects how an individual feels, thinks and acts (Beirao D et al, 2020).While it is viewed and thought of as just a feeling of sadness, depression is a real medical condition presenting with specific symptoms. It modifies the manner in which people envisage themselves (Bernaras E, 2019 ). While it was percieved as a disease of adults, child psychiatric epidemiological studies affirm that children and adolescents experience depression (Bernardineli A J, 2021). Studies have further indicated that the start of depression peaks in adolescence (Bhatia SK , 2007). Risk factors are never static and depend on an individual (Demoze MB , 2018). Literature reveals several risk factors that are discussed herein but a focus on adolescent population is scarce. Research reports a high prevalence of depression among adolescents in schools in kenya thus the need for more attention (Doyle KS , 2011).

Biological factors may predict depression. Previous research for instance shows that when the Hypothalamus, the Pituitary gland and the Adrenaline gland axis (HPA) are overactive, it may leads to much secretion of the adrenal hormone. (Doyle C ,2021). The hormone is implicated in the fight, flight, or freeze effect, as well as the release of cortisol which is the stress hormone of the body (Garber J, 2006). The stress may lead to all manner of health challenges such as depression (Girma S, 2021). Additionally, anomalies in serotonin genetic transmission are often associated to depression. The s/s genotype is connected to a reduction of serotonin expression, that is associated with greater vulnerability to depression (Huang Y, 2022).

Sex is another predictor for depression. Findings of a study reveal that females undergo major depression approximately twice as often as males (Kabunga A, 2021). It has also been shown that depression is at its peak during the female’s reproductive years. This is as a result of an influx of hormones related to their menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth which contribute to depression. Pubertal hormones are also linked to adolescent depression. Moreover, girls are twice as likely to undergo depression as boys. Use of certain birth control pills and Acutane for treating acne is linked to adolescent depression, among females (Kang H, 2021).Having disease may be risk factor for depression. In Western Kenya, a study done by among adolescent girls and young women show relations between depression and HIV/ AIDS. The findings of depression levels were determined by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10) score ≥10. The results established that thirty four percent of participants had moderate to severe depression and showed an increased HIV risk mark comparable to 5 to 15 incident HIV cases per 100 person-years (Kanner S, 2003). Another study by measured the association between young person’s suffering from depression and diabetes on glycemic control, quality of life, among other factors. The study concluded that juveniles with type 1 Diabetes have importantly higher levels of depression more than the broad population (Khasakhala, LI,2012).

Genetics has also been identified as a predictor for depression. A study done by Garber J, reveals that parental depression is a significant predictor for depression in young people. A comparison of non-depressed parents, children of depressed parents were close to three to four times probable of having depression (Larsen A et al, 2020). The children of depressed parents were also found to have an increased risk medical use, other mood disorders, negative behavior, school related challenges, suicide trials, substance abuse and among others (Merikangas KR, 2022). Cognitive explanations of depression also maintain that when individuals with negative self-perceptions are confronted with stressful life events, they will evaluate the stressors and their effects in a negative way, and thus are more apt to be depressed unlike persons who have positive cognitive styles (Moeini B,2019).

Researchers have linked drug abuse to depression. A study done by among secondary schools in Nigeria to establish the relationship between depression and drug confirms that drug use increases depression (Naveed S, 2019). Family dysfunctions have also been reported as risk factors for depression. A study by in Nairobi Kenya among adolescents in schools shows that family dysfunctions are a great source of psychiatric disorders in children (Ndetei DM et al, 2008).

In dysfunctional families, he notes that there is a high prevalence of parent-to-parent or parent-to-child conflicts that increases the risk of adolescence developing psychiatric disorders. The study further shows that the uninvolved parenting behaviour is associated with child negligence, both physically and emotionally (Ndiege JR, 2020). Studies have also revealed that parenting modes pose a risk factor for depression. Authoritarian as well as the uninvolved mothers may emotionally and physically abuse their children leading to depression (Njoku JN,2017).

Studies have shown that childhood stress and trauma increases the child’s risk of developing both substance disorder and depression later in life (Nyayieka MA,2020). To add-on, early childhood exposure to stress such as child abuse and neglect compounds the risk for depression and other disorders when they attain adulthood (Nzangi AK, 2022). A recent study by Huang among 1871 college students in China supports that adverse childhood experiences lead to low PWB which is an trigger of depression (Omulema BE, 2015). Losing a parent has always left individuals feeling low, sad and even withdrawn. The commonest response in children to orphan-hood is depression that is characterized by, hopelessness, anxiety, as well as the fear of being alone (Osborn TL et al, 2022). A study done among orphans found out that orphaned children are more depressed, much anxious, and hopeless about the upcoming life. Such depressed orphans were likely to exhibit anger feelings and have much turbulent characters compared to children with parents (Saveanu RV, 2012). A study conducted by on the association of bullying and depressive symptoms reveals a positive relationship(Schick MR, 2022). In the study of 452 participants, a multiple regression analysis showed that depression scores were higher among the perpetrators and victims of bullying. Bullying victimization was a stronger predictor of depressive symptomology (Shiferaw G, 2018). These studies highlighted have less been studied within school environments. The current study focused on the pssychosocial, biomedical and school related risk factors for depression among adolescents in schools (Thapar A, 2012).

The study was conducted in secondary schools of Kakamega County which is located in the Western part of Kenya. A analytical design was adopted. Mixed methods of data collection were used. Multi-stage cluster sampling was used to select schools. From the clusters, 45 schools were then randomly selected. For the sample size for the adolescents, a G-power analysis was used to ascertain the sample size (n), computed as a function of the required power level (1-β) which was taken as 80%, the pre-specified significance level (α=0.05), and a population effect size of
0.4 (Verhallen AM, 2019). Based on this analysis, the study recruited 448 adolescents of 15-19 years, through simple random sampling. Kutcher adolescent depression scale-11 items was used to screen for depression. Those who scored above the mean were 184 adolescents who formed the sample. An adolescent sociodemographic questionnaire and key informant guides were further used for data collection. These tools were formulated from the literature review and were used to determine the risk factors for depression among the adolescents(Wu W et al, 2022). Validity was ensured through a pilot study conducted in the nearby County. The pilot study was used to assess the clarity of the wordings in the data collections tools. Written assent was also an inclusion criteria for the adolescents below 18 and consent from guardians. Adolescents above 18 consented for themselves in written (Yilmaz F,2022).

Statistical Analysis: Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version was used for analysis. Odds ratios were computed to determine the predictors depression. Frequency tables and percentages were used to display the risk factors and verbatim quotes were for the findings of the qualitative data (Table 1).

Table 1: Study Population and Sample size.

The researcher conducted a generalized linear model analysis for the socio-demographic characteristics and all the risk factors for depression. The findings showed that adolescents who were under 17 years were 1.7 times (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.54), more likely to develop depression compared to students above 17 years. Likewise for form 1 and 2 students were nearly 2 times more likely to have depression as compared to participants in form 3 (OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.71). Findings further show that adolescents in schools that were run by a sponsor were
1.3 times (0.74,2.23) less likely to suffer form depression, while adolescents in boys boarding schools were 1.9 (1.276, 2.781) times likely by to be depressed than those in girl schools. Findings are as shown in (Table 2).

Table 2: Socio-demographic Characteristics as Predictors of Depression.

Psycho-Social Risk Factors For Depression Among Adolescents

The results show that the risk of developing depression was three times, 1.5 times and 1.2 times for students who had no parents (OR=3.06, 95% CI: 1.03-,9.04), those who had a single-parent mother only (OR= 1.52, 95% CI: 0.76, 2.80)
and father only (OR= 1.21, 95% CI: 0.21, 2.31) respectively compared to students who had both parents. Students who were neutral on whether they had ease talking to their parents and those who had difficulty in talking with their parents were twice (OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 01.03,5.04) more
likely and 17% (OR= 0.83, 95% CI: 0.39,1.75) less chance of developing depression than those who had it very difficult to talk with their parents.

On the other hand, adolescents whose parents never married also had nearly three times (OR=2.7, 95% CI: 1.62, 4.24) likelihood of developing depression than those whose parents were married. Students whose parents were perceived to be poor on the other hand were 3.3 times (OR= 3.3, 95% CI: 1.66, 5.31) significantly more likely to develop depression than those whose parents were perceived to be rich. Other factors that had significant influence on depression were: having friendship problems (OR= 2.1, 95% CI: (1.42, 3.79);
being anxious (OR= 1.83, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.71); Suicide
Attempt (OR= 10.16, 95% CI: 1.50, 68.78). The findings are shown as . Conspicuously, there was also increased likelihood of students who had access to internet developing depression (OR=1.4= 95%; 95% Cl; 1.01, 2.18) than those who did not (Table 3).

Table 3: Psycho-Social Risk Factors as Predictors of Depression.

A Key Informant also supports that relationship issues could lead to depression:-“I was once a teacher and in my school, I witnessed a case where a girl committed suicide for sharing a boyfriend with the mother. When the girl learnt that the boyfriend had opted to continue the relationship with the mother and not her, she just could not take it.”Another key informant also supported the fact that poverty could lead to depression:-“You know when a child lacks poscket money, she is forced to keep borrowing from others some basic needs. This makes the adolescents feel low which could lead to depression. Furthermore, in boarding schools, the children are forced to belong to certain peer groups and the struggle to fit in for the poor students could result into depression”

Biomedical Risk Factors Of Depression Among Adolescents: An analysis was conducted using the generalized linear regression model analysis. The results show that alcoholism, HIV positive or infection, and anxiety, significant predictors of depression among students. Adolescents who took alcohol had 63% (OR=0.63; 95% CI: 0.03,1.33) chance of suffering from depression compared to those who did not. Adolescents who were HIV positive had 1.75 times (OR=1.75; 95% CI: 1.06-2.56) higher risk for depression than those who were HIV negative. On the other hand, adolescents who were anxious had 90% (OR=95% CI: 0.07-4.88), chance of suffering from depression than those who were not. However, heart disease, Diabetes Type 1 &2, kidney disease, Respiratory disease, Suicide attempt, bipolar disorder, and Cancer were not predictors of depression. Results are as shown in (Table 4).

Table 4: Biomedical Risk Factors for Depression among Adolescents.

Sickness is also a cause of depression for adolescents. Some terminal illnesses such as diabetes can cause problems to the young people. Because of hospitalizations, they are always absent from school and this could lead to poor academic grades which could also lead to depression. I also want to note that sickle cell anemia is common among children in this county. This is a disease that need frequent hospitalizations that could lead to depression among children and even for their care givers ”.Supporting this findings on biomedical risk factors was another key informant who highlighted that having HIV/AIDS is a probable cause of depression. This is what they said:-“For students who are HIV positive and are in boarding schools, they have serious problems. You know they fear disclosing to peers for fear of discrimination. They also have to keep drugs with the school health facility, where they have to be visiting any time they are to take the medicine. This several visits may raise concerns with the friends. Also the medicine has to be taken in hiding. All these increase the struggles for the adolescents which could depress them”.

School-Related Risk Factors For Depression Among Adolescents: An examination of influence the of school-related factors on depression compared with each different reference category shows that the odds of developing depression were significantly increased among students who had difficulty concentrating in school (OR=1.2, 95% CI: (0.73, 2.02); having trouble with the school laws and regulations in the last 12 months (OR= 1.8, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.62); students who had bad past life in schools the last 12 (OR=0.92, 95% CI: 0.01, 5.93). Results are in (Table 5).

Table 5: School-Related Factors for Depression among Adolescents.

“The number one risk factor I could say is failure to perform well in school. I mean getting low grades. Moreover, the students have just cleared their national exams will soon be receiving placements to the other institutions. For the form ones, you might find a child has performed well, but they have been placed in poor performing schools. So the child is forced to be in a school environment that they don’t like. In some cases, they are even called to day schools that are far from them and they have to walk long distances which is very stressful”.

Another key informant supported this results on school related risk factors and they had this to say:-“Poor performance in the national examinations such as KCPE and KCSE may make students to be depressed. In some cases, we have heard in the media reports on students who have committed suicide for posting poor grades in these examinations”.

In a separate interview conducted, this is what the Key informant had to say: “The other thing is about is the amount of work that these children are given. Schools nowadays have so much homework for students such that a child has no time to rest. The students are unable to cope with the work given to them. The other risk factor is drug and substance abuse. You know, most students especially in those in boarding schools are addicted to drugs. Because of the restrictions in this schools, accessibility to the drugs and substances are a problem. Where they can’t get drugs in school will just be depressed. They may also go to extreme situations like sneaking out of schools to try find the drugs”.

Results showed that depression was three times, 1.5 times and 1.2 times for adolescents who had no parents, those who had  single-parents i.e. mother only  and father only respectively compared to students who had both parents. This finding agrees with other studies done in Ethiopia which revealed that orphans have higher scores of depressive symptoms than non-orphans . In both cross-sectional studies, scores for depression among orphans is high as compared to non-orphans. A study by contrast the findings of this study. The study showed that there was a high prevalence of depression among adolescents who lived with both parents compared those who had with mothers at 16.1%, as well as those who stayed with fathers alone at 12.1%. More efforts should be put in place to screen for depression among orphaned adolescents so that effective interventions such as WBT may be tried out on orphans to investigate its effectiveness. Findings of this study showed that adolescents whose parents were never married had nearly three times likelihood of developing depression than those whose parents were married. This is in agreement with a recent study by who found out that adolescents of single parents were more depressed than those whose parents were married . The finding of this study may be attributed to the fact that lack social support as well physical and economic deprivation are characteristics of single parenthood that may lead to depression.  Findings revealed that having relationship problems was a predictor for depression. An experimental study by concurs with this finding that the friendship problems are a risk factor for depression. The reasons for higher depression levels among adolescents with friendship problems may be that adolescents determined their self-worth through the assessment of friends. The adolescents could also be depressed because they may have felt unwanted by the opposite sex. The adolescents may also feel like one failed relationship could indicate a failure in future relationships. Likelihood of depression after a break-up may be as a result of perverted interpretations of negative feelings related to with the friendship problems.  Findings further showed that poverty was a significant predictor of depression as adolescents from poor backgrounds were three times likely to be depressed. This was because with poverty, came other challenges such as lack of basic necessities like food, clothing school requirements among others. The lack of basic needs was likely to subject the adolescents to several uncertainties which may increase depression . According to a study by  socioeconomic factors may increase the level of depression among the adolescents . This finding is further supported by a Turkish study, with similar methodology, though different tools, which showed that children from poor backgrounds were more likely to be depressed.

Access to phones predicted depression as supported by studies such as Doyle et al. For this study, access to mobile phone led to increased social media presence which comes with other challenges. The use social media may be related to unhealthy comparisons, repeated checking for messages, likes and approvals which could be addictive, causing depression when the same are not available. Texting and sexting may also some of the reasons adolescents who had access to internet were likely to be depressed. A systematic review by Doyle et al.,  shows that sexting is a risky behaviour linked to depression . However, there is a fact that social media may be used to create awareness on depression signs, and as well a measure social connectivity which is a protective factor for depression. Parents and teachers should routinely know what adolescents access on phones. Future studies may be relevant to delve deeply into this matter.

The results of the biomedical risk factors showed that alcoholism, having HIV, and Anxiety, were significant predictors of depression among adolescents. The findings on HIV/AIDS were supported by a systematic review by Ayano et al. (2021). Precisely, the higher prevalence of depression was reported among female adolescents (32.15%) than males (25.07%). The older HIV positive adolescents of 15-19 years (37.09%) were more depressed than the 10–14-year-olds (Ayano et al., 2021). An earlier cross-sectional study done in Ethiopia further supported the fact that there exists a higher prevalence of depression among the HIV-positive adolescents . A study done by  among adolescent girls and young women in Western Kenya, show positive relations between depression and HIV/AIDS. The results showed that 34% of respondents had moderate to severe depression as a result of being HIV positive . The positive correlation being HIV positive and depression in this study may be associated with struggles of storing medications while in schools, schools personnel and friends who may spread the information, and concealing the HIV status even to closest friends. Adolescents who had anxiety had three times likelihood of suffering from depression than those who were not. The reason for the findings may be as a result of similarity of the items in the tools used to measure depression and anxiety. The other reason for the comorbidity in this study could be attributed to  similar etiological factors as well as negative processing of information in both disorders. This study finding was supported by a finding of conducted among adolescents in secondary schools in Nairobi City County. This finding showed that when working with adolescents with depression in schools, healthworkers should screen for anxiety symptoms. Findings of alcoholism showed a statistical significance as adolescents who consumed alcohol were six times likely to suffer from depression as compared to those who did not. This finding was in agreement with a study by  which revealed that there was a little, but a statistically significant positive relationship was found between depression and alcoholism. These findings shows that, when dealing with adolescents with the problem of alcohol use, depressive symptoms should be assessed. Conversely, adolescents with depression should be tested for alcohol use taking into consideration that depression may add to the risk of alcohol consumption.

Results on school-related risk factors showed that adolescents who had trouble with the school rules and regulations were close to two times likely to suffer from depression unlike to who did not. This is because adolescents who broke schools rules were likely to face punishments such as caning, manual work as others are in class, and name calling on the assembly. All these would lead to embarrassment which could lead to low self-esteem which could likely cause depression. Sometimes the failure to adhere to school rules would lead to exclusion through suspension and even at times expulsion. When the adolescents are suspended, they are likely to lose friends which could lead to loneliness that when prolonged could lead to depression. School exclusion may also increase the likelihood of school drop-out. This finding was supported by a study done in Nakuru county. In the Nakuru study, it was found that suspensions had great negative effect on students’ PWB in which the lower PWB  which could lead to depression.

Another significant risk factor for depression for adolescents in this study was having trouble in concentrating in school. Other studies have shown that depression decreases an individuals level of strength, increases chances of being fatigued and the prolonging of it could lead to depression. Depression could also reduce the capability of one’s overall reasoning. All of these could influence ones’ motivation in life and thus a poor school achievement . Difficulty in concentration would lead to poor academic performance which may lead in to depression. 

Another significant risk factor for depression for adolescents in this study was having trouble in concentrating in school. Other studies have shown that depression decreases an individuals level of strength, increases chances of being fatigued and the prolonging of it could lead to depression. Depression could also reduce the capability of one’s overall reasoning. All of these could influence ones’ motivation in life and thus a poor school achievement . Difficulty in concentration would lead to poor academic performance which may lead in to depression. 

The study concluded that psychological risk factors to look out for were orphanhood, poverty, and coming from single parent families. Socio-economic empowerment programs may be targeted for such families. Parents and guardians may also need to be educated on the risk factors for depression among adolescents since some are parent-related. Access to internet predicted depression. Parents and guardians may need to provide guidance on internet usage to adolescents. Internet may also be adopted in created awareness on depression signs and even create avenues for management through social support groups. 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. Biomedical risk factors identified by this study were having HIV and Anxiety. Special attention may be given to such adolescents with these medical conditions. Alcohol consumption was significant and thus need to screen for depression among on alcoholic adolescents and depressed ones. School related risk factors identified in this study were trouble with school rules which could lead to suspension and even expulsion. Teachers and guardians may need awareness on appropriate punitive measures for adolescents. Adolescents who had trouble concentrating in schools were likely to be depressed.

The authors declare no conflict of interest

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