The impact that socioeconomic status, adult supervision and gender have on the mental health of adolescents

Thesis (M.S.W.) California State University, Los Angeles, 2012Committee members: Connie S Corley, Valentine M Villa, Dale C WeaverAdolescents, Adult Supervision, Depression, Gender, Poverty, Socioeconomic StatusThis study examines the effect that socioeconomic status (SES), adult supervision,and gender have on the mental health status of adolescents. The dependent variable wasemotional functioning of adolescents. The independent variables were socio economicstatus, adult supervision and gender.The results revealed that adult supervision is related to mental health amongadolescents. Specifically, adolescents whose parents are not married are more likely toreport being depressed and that everything is an effort. Adolescents who do not live withboth parents are more likely to report that they feel hopeless and restless. One of themost consistent predictors of adolescent mental health in the area of adult supervisionwas frequency of an adult around after school hours. Another consistent predictor ofmental health among this population was gender. Being female was related to worsemental health among adolescents. Poverty was also a predictor of poor mental healthamong adolescents