The Impact of Alcohol Use, Socioeconomic Status and Gender on Depression Among Adolescents

Depression is a real concern for adolescents because one in five teens will experience depression at some point in their lives (National Alliance on Mental Illness; 2014). They are exploring their own individual independence and, in turn, developing who they are as a person. Peers and friends are important, and take precedence over parents. This research study will examine the impact of alcohol use, socioeconomic status and gender on depression in adolescents ages 12 to 17 years old. The data utilized for this study was gathered from the California Health and Interview Survey (CHIS; 2011). The independent variables utilized in his study were alcohol use, socioeconomic status, and gender. The dependent variable was depression. The findings indicate that the consistent predictors of depressive symptomology are alcohol use, poverty and gender. The results of this study suggest that it is important for policy makers and professionals in the field working with adolescents have an understanding of the various factors that contribute to depression when developing preventative and future services to address this mental health concern