ROLE OF SELF-ESTEEM AND GENDER IN SELF-REPORT DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG ADOLESCENTS

📄 Project Abstract

Depression is a common mental illness that affects a lot of people all over the world. It is a universal experience and it is said to be the common cold of psychopathology in Europe and America (Oladimeji 1995). In Africa as well, depression has been found, in its various forms, to be high on the list of common problems in psychiatric clinics and hospitals (Gentian 1968; Ebie, 1972). Depression can be viewed in three separate ways as a biological disease, as a reaction to life situations, and as a means of interpersonal communication. Expounding depression as a reaction to life situations, Nolen-Hoeksema (2004) defined depression as a state marked by either a sad mood or a loss of interest in one's usual activities, as well as feelings of hopelessness, suicidal ideation, psychomotor agitation or retardation and trouble concentrating. Investigators recently have begun to develop models that attempt to integrate cognitive and interpersonal processes in understanding vulnerability to depr...