Publication: Universal depressive symptom screening in middle schools in Istanbul: An epidemiologic study
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Date
2025-01-01
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Abstract
Introduction: Depression is a significant public health concern, with severe adolescent morbidity and mortality.
Promoting adolescents’ mental health is increasingly recognized, and schools are proposed as screening and
preventive intervention sites. This cross-sectional study aimed to screen self-reported elevated depressive
symptom prevalence among secondary school students in Istanbul, Turkey. The secondary objectives were
determining behavioral problems, resilience, positive attitudes, and risk factors associated with depressive
symptoms.
Methods: Data collection was conducted between April–June 2022. Six thousand one hundred ten students from
nine randomly selected schools from different city districts were approached. Depression was screened by the
Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). The Strengths and Difficulties
Questionnaire (SDQ) was used for screening behavioral problems and positive attitudes. Resilience was evaluated by the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM).
Results: The final study sample comprised 2780 participants (response rate 47.7 %) with a mean age of 12.4 ±
1.1 years (females:52.7 %). Elevated depressive symptoms were detected in 31.2 % of the students. Female
students exhibited higher scores in CES-DC and total difficulties but lower resilience scores in CYRM than male
students. In a multiple regression analysis, female gender, higher total difficulties score, lower resilience score,
and lower perceived academic performance significantly predicted CES-DC [F(6,2279) = 421, p < 0.01].
Discussion: Our findings showed high rates of elevated self-reported depressive symptoms in a city sample among
Turkish adolescents at middle schools, in addition to coexisting behavioral difficulties and decreased resilience
indicating poor psychosocial functioning. Given the prevalent depressive symptoms, screening and intervention
programs involving resilience promotion may involve school systems to prevent adolescent depression.
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Sağlık Bilimleri, Health Sciences, Klinik Tıp (Med), Clinical Medicine (Med), Adolescents, Depression, Screening, Resilience, Strength and difficulties
Citation
Yıldız Silahlı N., Barış H. E., Qutranjı L., Yorgancı Kale B., Günal Ö., Ütük B., Karavuş M., Arman A., Boran P., "Universal depressive symptom screening in middle schools in Istanbul: An epidemiologic study", JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS, cilt.369, sa.369, ss.110-117, 2025