Running head: DEPRESSION IN TEENS

Kiana Schultz
Depression in Teens
University of Texas at El Paso

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Abstract

Depression is an illness that takes over the mind and body, affecting thousands of people.
It is said that by the age of 18, 11% of adolescents have depression. Teens with depression have
shown symptoms that effect their everyday lives. School work becomes harder for teens, as
studies conducted based on this topic have shown. Not concentrating, working with others, or not
having the motive to work are all indicators of possible depression. A child who does not see the
need to do better or have the motive to do better is in a type of depression.
Cyberbullying has also shown to be a factor to teen depression. Attacking someone online
is easy to do, but has a major negative impact on the victim. In some cases, teens who were
bullied online have shown major depression and have committed suicide. There are ways to help
with a teens depression, such as going through different types of therapy, depending on the
severity of their depression. Antidepressants, alongside seeing a psychologist have shown great
results in improvement.

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Introduction

Depression can be defined as a medical disorder that causes a person to feel persistently
sad, low, or disinterested in daily activities. (School of Psychiatry, 2010). Teen depression has
increased over the years, becoming a topic of concern for many parents. There are several
symptoms that indicate depression. The person can show an impaired ability to concentrate, loss
of interest, poor initiative, psychomotor retardation, low self-esteem, sense of worthlessness as
well as social withdrawal. (Frjd, Nissinen, Pelkonen, Marttunen, Koivisto, and Kaltiala, 2014).
Factors for depression vary on teens as they go through school, puberty, and self-issues. This
paper will answer the following questions regarding depression:

How does depression in teens, ages 13-19, affect their academic performance in high

school?
How does depression in teens, 13-19, connect to cyber bullying on Facebook currently

from 2014-2015?
What precautions and treatments are being used to treat depression in teens ages 13-19?

Methodology
The research used for this paper was done by using online sources, books, newspapers,
and primary sources. The primary source used for this paper was an interview done with Fred
Arellano, an advanced practice psychiatric nurse. It was conducted on March 24, 2015 with a
face to face interview. Mr. Arellano was asked a total of 15 question relating to the topic of teens
with depression and the treatments and preventions for teens. The purpose of the interview was
to get a primary resource that is reliable and relatable to this paper. Mr. Arellanos official title is
a Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist. He obtained his bachelors in nursing at the

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University of Texas at El Paso and continued on with his masters. He received a degree as a
psychiatry mental nurse and has the ability as an advanced practice psychiatry nurse to prescribe
medication. Mr. Arellano gives psych evaluation on his patients and recommends treatments,
whether its therapy or medication, at the Sun City Behavior Health Care, Providence Hospital
and Peak Hospital in Santa Teresa.
How does depression in teens, ages 13-19, affect their academic performance in high
school?
Studies have been conducted to find a connection between teen depression and whether
depression affects the students academic performance. The results for these studies did show
indication that there is a substantial connection between the two.
When at school, a child will show noticeable symptoms that are associated with
depression. Such as having a difficult time concentrating and/ or forgetting things, which affects
the child from paying attention to the teacher and staying on a task. They show signs of isolation
from their peers by not participating in group activities, they have an impaired ability to organize
and make plans and are generally constantly having feeling of sadness. (School of Psychiatry,
2010). There many other factors associated with depression as well.
In a study conducted by authors Frjd, Nissinen, Pelkonen, Marttunen, Koivisto, and
Kaltiala, they hypothesize that depression in adolescents have a negative impact on their school
life. Thus resulting in receiving low grades, having a poor social life, and having a low selfesteem. The researchers began their study by having 2266 student participants, ages 13-17 years
old, and giving them an anonymously answered questionnaire. Questions included in the
questionnaire asked students how they saw their work load, whether it was too light, too heavy,
or just right. As well as questions pertaining to how well they concentrated on their school

DEPRESSION IN TEENS

activates, how they work with others, their study habits, and such questions relating to their
school work.
Results in the study showed that 11.1% of the boys were classified with depression, and
18.4% of girls were classified with depression. (Frjd, Nissinen, Pelkonen, Marttunen, Koivisto,
and Kaltiala, 2014). Signs of depression were found in students who had difficulties in
concentrating, doing team work, studying habits, their relationship with the teachers and being
able to do written and reading tasks. The study concluded that depressed young people had
impaired abilities to cope with academic responsibility School stress and class well-being were
significantly associated with depressive symptoms in both sexes. (Frjd, Nissinen, Pelkonen,
Marttunen, Koivisto, and Kaltiala, 2014).
Mastery Goals
Mastery
Goals

Activity Emotions
-Enjoyment (+)
- Boredom, Anger (-)

PerformanceApproach
Performance
Goals
PerformanceAvoidance
Goals

Positive Outcome
Emotions
-Hope, Pride
Negative Outcome
Emotions
-Anxiety, Hopelessness,
Shame

Figure1. The proposed theoretical integration for achievement

goals, achievement emotions, and academic performance

There have been

similar studies
conducted aimed
to find an
association
between
depression and
students academic
performance. In a
study done the
Journal They
predicted that there
is a connection
between
achievement
goals and
achievement
emotions to

academic performance (R. Pekrun, M. Marcus, A.J. Eliot, 2009).

They conducted their research by extending a previous study they made in 2006. In
Figure 1, the chart was used to help guide the researchers in the previous study and the current
study to evaluate the results. The 218 students used in the study were organized by

DEPRESSION IN TEENS

demographics. The researchers received their results by having the students complete a take
home packet that would help them on their final exam in their class. They gave them another one
that asked questions on their emotions. They used the results from the two packets and final
exam to evaluate their results.
Results show [confirmation], that [the] goals and emotions are both important
predictors of performance attainment Achievement goals direct individuals toward or away
from potential competence-relevant outcomes and have a distal influence on these outcomes
through psychological processes, such as achievement emotions. (R. Pekrun, M. Marcus, A.J.
Eliot, 2009) Over all it can be concluded that depression has an effect on academic performance.
How does depression in teens, 13-19, connect to cyber bullying on Facebook currently from
2014-2015?
People as young as 10 to 100 years old are on Facebook. Facebook is used to share
personal photos, stories, and connecting with friends. As technology changes, means of
communication have changed from talking to someone in person to sending them a message on
your phone or laptop. Its become easier to attack someone online than in person. Bullying,
physically attacking someone in person, has turned into cyberbullying, attacking someone online.
In a recent poll conducted, 10,000 young people were surveyed to answer question based
on their experience with cyberbullying. The poll showed that 7 out 10 young people are victims
of cyberbullying and that young people [are] found to be twice as likely to be cyber bullied on
Facebook as on any other social network. (Cyberbullying and Bullying Statistics, 2014). There
have been little to no consequences for those who have bullied others online, but have shown a
substantial effect on those who were bullied affecting their self- esteem and social life
(Cyberbullying and Bullying Statistics, 2014).

DEPRESSION IN TEENS

In a study published by the Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research in 2011,
researchers conducted a study that evaluated the connection between depression and statuses on
Facebook. The information needed for the study was collected from 307 students from two
different schools. Their profiles were viewed and results were collected based on key words the
students might have posted. So one symptom keywords for major depression is hopeless,
therefore a status update stating I feel hopeless would be coded as a reference to
depression.(M. A. Moreno, D. A. Christakis.. T. Becker, 2011). The results concluded that
33.9% of the students used for the study displayed symptoms of depression. Women are more
likely to show symptoms of depression on Facebook then men with a 40-25% difference.
In another article, Cyberbullying linked to spike in depression, the author talks about
an incident that happened to Phoebe Prince, a 15 year old girl who committed suicide after a
series of constant bullying on Facebook and attacks in person. The mother of the victim stated
that her daughter would get bullied on Facebook being called nasty names as well as being
psychically bullied at school. The article states that cyberbullying is most common with kids in
grades 6-8th .(Donna, 2014). Peers are more important than their family members, so if their
peers dont accept them, it has a big impact on them.(F. Arellano, personal interview, 2015). As
Mr. Arellano said, children are dealing with issues of puberty and self-confidence as they face
their teen years making them feel vulnerable and victims to their peers.
What precautions and treatments are being used to treat depression in teens, ages 13-19?
Depression can be categorized in three different disorders. There is major depressive
disorder in which symptoms of persistent depression occurs every day to at least two weeks. It
occurs when stress is present or can develop on its own. There is dysthymic disorder, a mild
depression that last for about a year and effects how they function at home and at school. And

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seasonal affective disorder, in which symptoms of depression are when there are changes in the
seasons. (School of Psychiatry, 2010).
In the article Treatments for depression the authors go over the different treatments that
have shown to be effective. Evidence indicate that patients dealing with a nonbiological major
depression have shown positive results in combing antidepressant medication and therapy.(F.
Duval, B. Lebowitz, J.P. Macker, 2006) Patients undergoing medication and depression are
reviewed over a course of 4-6 weeks, as antidepressants have shown to have side effects of
suicide.
In the interview conducted with Mr. Arellano, he also favors that idea as well. He advises
all his patients to take medication and go to counseling. Mr. Arellano states that [The most
effective type of therapy] would be cognitive therapy. Its one of the quickest and most effective
without having to go back to [issues] when you were a baby and working through years of life.
Focus on the here and now. (F. Arellano, personal interview, 2015). He prescribes his patients
different medication to help stabilize their moods, but there are other factors to keep in
consideration when prescribing them.
Antidepressants have shown different effectiveness. They are generally used when a
person experiences a moderate to severe episodes of depression. (Psychological treatments for
depression, 2015). There are factors to consider when being prescribed medication, such as the
patients age, their symptoms, and if they are taking other medications. All these can decide
whether the medication will be effective. Every person dealing with depression needs to find the
medication thats right for them.

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Conclusion

Depression in teens has have a variety of effects on their life. Studies have shown that
depression does effect a childs school work. They become uninterested, unfocused, and have a
bad outlook on life because of their depression causing them to lose interest in school, which
reflects on their poor grades. Social media, such as Facebook, has contributed to teen depression.
There are thousands of kids being cyberbullying every day, and in worse cases, some commit
suicide because of being bullied online. Depression is a feeling that takes over your body and
mind. But with the correct help from both a psychologist and antidepressant, it is easier to
overcome depression.

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References

Frojd, S., Nissinen, E., Pelkonen, M., Marttunen, M., Koivisto, A., & Kaltialaheino, R. (2014).
Depression And School Performance In Middle Adolescent Boys And Girls.Journal of
Adolescence, 485-498.
Depression in children and teens. (2010, January 1). Retrieved March 3, 2015, from
http://www2.massgeneral.org/schoolpsychiatry/info_depression.asp
St., Donna. (2010, September 21). Cyber-bullying linked to spike in depression. The Washington
Post. Retrieved from
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2010/09/20/AR2010092006
Cyberbullying and Bullying Statistics 2014, Finally! (2014, January 1). Retrieved March 3,
2015, from http://nobullying.com/cyberbullying-bullying-statistics-2014-finally/
Depression in Children and Adolescents (Fact Sheet). (n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2015, from
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-in-children-andadolescents/index.shtml
Pekrun, R., Elliot, A., & Maier, M. (2009). Achievement Goals And Achievement Emotions:
Testing A Model Of Their Joint Relations With Academic Performance. Journal of
Educational Psychology, Vol. 101, 115-135.
Moreno, M., Christakis, D., Egan, K., Jelenchick, L., Cox, E., Young, H., . . . Becker, T. (2011).
A Pilot Evaluation of Associations Between Displayed Depression References on Facebook
and Self-reported Depression Using a Clinical Scale. The Journal of Behavioral Health
Services & Research, 295-304.

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Duval, F., Lebowitz, B., & Macher, J. (2006). Treatments in Depression. Pharmacological
Aspects, vol. 8, 191-201.
Arellano, F. (2015, March 24). Treatments for Depression [Personal interview].

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