Adolescent depression: Its prevalence and correlates

This study measured the prevalence of depression among 191 tenth and eleventh grade students, and investigated its relationship to gender, sex-role, ego identity achievement, and concerns about the future. Ninety-one males and 100 females completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BEM), Ego Identity Scale (EIS), and Future Concerns Scale (FCS). Twenty-five percent were found to be depressed. Ego identity achievement was significantly correlated with depression, and a Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis indicated that ego identity achievement predicted 44 percent of the variance in depression scores. Results of a Two-Way Multivariate ANOVA indicated that females were significantly more depressed than males, but found no significant effect for gender on ego identity. Both Feminine and Undifferentiated subjects had significantly higher depression scores and significantly lower ego identity scores than either Masculine or Androgynous subjects. Results support the observation that it is not the presence of feminine characteristics, but the absence of masculine characteristics, that is associated with more deleterious outcomes. A post-hoc analysis of the FCS illuminated both gender and sex-role differences in the issues associated with depression among this group. Other correlates of depression were also examined. The interrelationship of sex-role and ego identity achievement is discussed, and implications for clinicians and educators are considered