Family Interactions and Depression in Adolescents
Author Information
Author(s): Sanja Smojver-Ažić, Petar Bezinović
Primary Institution: University of Rijeka, Croatia
Hypothesis
Family relations and each parent's interaction are significantly correlated with depressive symptoms in adolescents, with positive family relations having a more protective role for girls than for boys.
Conclusion
Family activities and the father's warmth and affection are more significant for girls, while destructive parental conflict affects both genders equally.
Supporting Evidence
- 19.1% of girls and 15.8% of boys reported depressive symptoms often or very often.
- Family variables accounted for 16.3% of the variance of depressive symptoms in boys and 17.2% in girls.
- Girls' depressive symptoms were more linked to the lack of protective family factors, while boys' symptoms were linked to harmful family factors.
Takeaway
This study shows that how families interact can affect how sad teenagers feel, especially for girls who need more support from their dads.
Methodology
A self-reported cross-sectional survey was conducted on a representative sample of secondary school students in Croatia, analyzing family interactions and depressive symptoms.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may lead to biased perceptions of family relations, especially among adolescents with depressive symptoms.
Limitations
Data were obtained from a single source as self-report measures, which may introduce bias, and the cross-sectional design does not allow for cause-and-effect conclusions.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 1191 secondary school students aged 14 to 19 years, with 617 girls and 574 boys.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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