Major depression, substance use, and resilience among female adolescents in institutional care

Abstract

Objective: This study compared female adolescents in institutional care (AICs) diagnosed with major depression (MD) or substance use disorder (SUD) with those who were not. In addition, we examined the protective effects of resilience, coping skills, and social support on SUD and MD. Methods: Participants included 49 female AICs (11–18 years) and a control group of 49 girls of similar age. Psychiatric diagnoses were made using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). In addition, participants completed self-report questionnaires: Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders Child Version (SCARED), The Child and Youth Psychological Resilience Scale, KIDCOPE, Social Support Appraisals Scale (SSAS), Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI). Results: AICs were found to have more psychopathologies than the control group. Higher resilience, SSAS-friends scores, and more positive coping styles were associated with lower CDI scores in AICs with MD. CDI and SCARED scores were higher, and SSAS- family, friends, teacher scores, and positive coping styles were lower in the AICs with SUD. Conclusions: Resilience, increased social support from friends, and positive coping styles showed negative relationships with MD and SUD in AICs. Social support from teachers and family was negatively associated with SUD in AICs.