how do adolescents define depression? - cIRcle - University of ...

Chapter IV: Results
Appendix Al for complete results). These high percentages of COAD units in these constructs
by both boys and girls suggest that they are representative of the adolescent depression concept
as understood by the participants.
Table 17
Percentages, Significant and Near Significant (< .10) Chi-Square Tests in Adolescent
Depression Constructs by Gender, N = 332
Category / Subcategory
Depressed Mood
Boys °/0
n = 148
Girls %
n = 184
X 2
(1, N= 332)
Depressed Appearance 10.8% 22.8% 8.21, p = .00
Hopelessness 18.9% 12.0% 3.11, p = .08
Low Self-Worth/Guilt 18.9% 32.1% 7.33, p = .01
Suicidal 14.9% 25.5% 5.68, p = .02
Social Impairment 60.1% 75.5% 9.05, p = .00
Perceived Disconnection 14.2% 27.2% 8.23, p = .00
Aggression/Bullied 4.7% 10.9% 4.14, p = .04
Retardation/Agitation 8.1% 17.4% 6.15, p = .01
Quiet 7.4% 16.3% 5.97, p = .02
Anxiety Symptoms 15.5% 22.8% 2.77, p = .10
Fear 6.1% 11.4% 2.84, p = .09
Masking/Stigma 3.4% 10.3% 5.90, p = .02
As can be seen in Table 17, girls had significantly higher percentages of COAD units
than boys in the constructs Depressed Appearance, Low Self-Worth, Suicidal, Social
Impairment, Perceived Disconnection, Aggression/Bullied, Retardation/Agitation, Quiet, and
Masking/Stigma. The only construct where boys had a higher percentage of COAD units in than
girls was Hopelessness (not significant).
Association between Adolescent Depression Constructs and Gender in Grade 8, and in Grade 11
Chi-square tests revealed that adolescent depression constructs differed significantly
between boys and girls in grade 8, and boys and girls in grade 11. Table 18 lists the percentage
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