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

Association of Categories and Subcategories of Depression to Gender in Grade 11
Chapter V: Discussion
All the significant categories and subcategories linked with gender in grade 11 were
different from the significant constructs associated with gender in grade 8. In grade 11, girls had
significantly higher percentages than boys in Depressed Appearance, Social Impairment,
Retardation/Agitation, and Quiet. Although the finding was significant in the subcategory
Depressed Appearance, percentages of their COAD dropped for both boys and girls from grade 8
to grade 11, suggesting that this subcategory had less importance in adolescents' definitions of
depression at the upper grade level. This may correspond to the level of development where
abstract thinking is more pronounced. Social Impairment and Quiet revealed the effect of social
relationship in defining depression.
Association of Categories and Subcategories of Depression to Grade Levels for Boys Only
A significantly higher percentage of boys in grade 8 than in grade 11 contributed
definitions of depression in the category Depressed Mood, and its subcategories Inner Pain and
Depressed Appearance. There may be several reasons for the increased percentages of generated
COAD by the younger boys. The significant percentages in these constructs may reflect the
younger boys' willingness to divulge their feelings at a younger age, possibly related to
prepuberty. It may also be associated with peer changes in the transition to high school, where
adjustments of interpersonal interactions can bring negative experiences that may persist over
time (Rutter, 2000).
Regarding Inner Pain, the significance of the drop in boys providing definitions in grade
11 (6%) from grade 8 (23%), seems to connect to the research that indicates depressed
adolescent males tend to exhibit more externalizing symptoms (Frydenberg, 1997; Gjerde, 1995;
Schonert-Reichl, 1994). The significant differences in that grade 8 boys more than grade 11 boys
provide their COAD in Depressed Mood and its two subcategories suggest that they are
expressing themselves differently in terms of depression.
Association of Categories and Subcategories of Depression to Grade Levels for Girls Only
Eighth grade girls had significantly higher percentages than 11 th grade girls in reporting
depression definitions in the constructs Contextual/Causal and Depressed Appearance. Both
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