”The Effects of Depression on the Student’s Academic

Performances in STI Baliuag and Ways How to Cope With It”

A research paper prepared to

Mrs. Mary Ann Kenneth D.C Silvestre

In partial fulfillment in the requirements of the subject

Practical Research

Prepared by:

Ma. Kathleen Cano

Rica Mae Caliuag

Crizelle Delgado

Hannah De Guzman

Julyana Therese

Zedrick Paguia

Joseph Matthew Reyes

Princess Thomas

Louie Ann Estarez

 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

We all know that depression is a serious medical condition in which a person

feels sad, hopeless and unimportant. Depression among students should be given
attention by the adults because they are more impulsive and careless, when a student
get depressed he/she usually can’t concentrate on her studies so she usually get a poor
grade. They don’t pay attention in class. They are there physically but their mind is
elsewhere. They tend to separate themselves from the people around them. And the
worst case is that student can also think of ending of his/her own life. The fact that
they can do these things deserves solution and awareness, not to shrug their shoulders
and turn back on them.

The factors of depression of the students may be more serious than the adults.
Students have to deal with problems about grades projects and exams. There is also
about family, friends and death of the loved ones. When they don’t have something
that most of her friends have, for example latest gadgets, this can also cause
depression. There is also time when they are not given attention by the opposite sex,
they wonder if they are attractive and feel not contended about their appearances.

Depression is a serious matter. If you happen to meet someone who is suffering

from depression or if you have a friend or from your family, appreciate him or her.
Make them feel loved. Make them feel that they are not alone. Let’s keep our eyes out
for those who think they’re weak. We might saw them often smiling but we never know
they are actually dealing with the evil inside them.

There are few numbers of students in STI who feel depressed so we end up to
this research study to help them overcome their problem. As a fellow STI’er we don’t
want them to experience the effects of depression, we want them to be knowledgeable
enough to be able to avoid it. The goal of the study is to detect who is at risk of
developing depression and who is not going to develop depression so we can prevent
these problems before they occur.  

And also one of the purposes of this paper is to identify the factors that cause
teenage depression and also for us to spot a teenager who is struggling with
depression. This paper is also intended to help the teens nowadays who are struggling
with teenage depression. We will show that depression should just be a phase in a
teen’s life. They can overcome it, because many did already. We will also show them
that they shouldn’t make suicide as an option because there will always be hope for
everyone and that their life can still change. This paper intends to provide explanations
as to why teenagers may acquire teenage depression. Also, this is to inform everyone
what to doing case they would face a depressed teen. They should learn to be more
sensitive, patient and understanding when a depressed teen would approach them.
Lastly, to show that teenage depression is not just a simple but instead it is a
dangerous disease because many teenagers life ended because of this and that until
today many are still struggling with it.
STATEMENTS OF THE PROBLEM

 The study focused on the effects of depression on student’s academic

performances in STI Baliuag and ways how to cope with it. Specifically it aims to
answer the following questions:

1. Who do you think is more likely to suffer from depression?

2. What is the most common risk factor that causes teenage depression?
3. What is the most common effect of teenage depression?
4. What are the most common signs or symptoms of depression?
5. What would be the effect or impact of depression to the school performances in
young individuals?
6. Do you think depression is common only to young individuals?
7. What are those treatment options can be used to treat or manage teen
depression?
8. As an individual, what are your own ways to prevent and cope with depression?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study focused on determining the effects of depression on student’s academic

performances in STI Baliuag and ways how to cope with it. So, we as a student of STI
Baliuag, we want to help our co-student who’s suffering from depression through
conducting this research. Moreover, the results of the study will be beneficial to the
following:

 Respondents/Students – This study will help the students or teenagers

especially in STI Baliuag to give them some knowledge and information about
depression for them to become more aware when they experience this kind of
situation. They can also apply this study to overcome every circumstance they
are going through and they will learn what are some alternative ways on how to
cope and prevent depression.
  Teacher/Guidance and staff – The result of the study will help the
teachers/guidance provide encouragement to think of ideas that will give proper
guidance to the students on how to deal with depression. This may also
encourage the guidance staff to think of other activities that will make the
students enjoy their life in school.
 Parents – The result of the study will help the parents of the respondents feel
secured and aware because it help them to understand more about the possible
causes and factors of depression on the student’s academic performance of their
child. This study will help them easily notice the signs or symptoms of depression
were their child are currently undergo and it will be esily for them to know when
is the right time where their child needed the most of their time, support and
guidance.
 Future Researchers – The findings of the study will serve as a reference
material and a guide for future researchers who wish to conduct the same
experimental study or any study related to depression.

ASSUMPTION OF THE STUDY

 At the end of this research study, we are expecting that we already determine
who’s more at risk in depression, and also identify the causes and factors of
depression on student’s academic performance in STI Baliuag. We are also
expecting that we can help a lot of people, not just juvenile but also adult to find
ways on how to avoid and cope with depression.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

 The scope of this study is limited only to the effect of depression on students’
academic performances in STI College Baliuag and ways on how to cope with it.
This survey is limited only for senior high school, college students and some
proctors of STI BALIUAG. The survey will answer only those who are chosen or
presents during that time that we conduct this study.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms are found throughout the literature review. Some of the terms
were not defined in the journal articles.

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) – It is a structured psychological treatment which

recognizes that the way we think (cognition) and act (behavior) affects the way we feel.
CBT is one of the most effective treatments for depression, and has been found to be
useful for a wide range of ages, including children, adolescents, adults and older
people.

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) – It is a structured psychological therapy that focuses on

problems in personal relationships and the skills needed to deal with these. IPT is based
on the idea that relationship problems can have a significant effect on someone
experiencing depression, and can even contribute to the cause.

Behavior therapy (BT) – It is a major component of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT),

unlike CBT it doesn’t attempt to change beliefs and attitudes. Instead it focuses on
encouraging activities that are rewarding, pleasant or satisfying, aiming to reverse the
patterns of avoidance, withdrawal and inactivity that make depression worse.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) – It is generally delivered in groups and

involves a type of meditation called 'mindfulness meditation'. This teaches you to focus
on the present moment – just noticing whatever you’re experiencing, whether it's
pleasant or unpleasant – without trying to change it. At first, this approach is used to
focus on physical sensations (like breathing), but then moves on to feelings and
thoughts.
Bipolar disorder: A mood disorder sometimes called manic-depressive illness or manic-
depression that characteristically involves cycles of depression and elation or mania.
Sometimes the mood switches from high to low and back again are dramatic and rapid,
but more often they are gradual and slow, and intervals of normal mood may occur
between the high (manic) and low (depressive) phases of the condition.

Psychotic disorders – A mental disorder that cause abnormal thinking and perceptions.
People with psychoses lose touch with reality. Two of the main symptoms are delusions
and hallucinations. Delusions are false beliefs, such as thinking that someone is plotting
against you or that the TV is sending you secret messages. Hallucinations are false
perceptions, such as hearing, seeing, or feeling something that is not there.

Antidepressants – Drugs that reduce symptoms of depressive disorders by correcting

chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain. Chemical imbalances may be
responsible for changes in mood and behavior.

Mood stabilizers – It is medicines that treat and prevent highs (mania) and lows
(depression). They also help to keep your moods from interfering with work, school, or
your social life.

Antipsychotics – also known as narcoleptics or major tranquilizers, are a class of

medication primarily used to manage psychosis, principally in schizophrenia and bipolar
disorder.
 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Depression, we all know that this is an abnormal emotional state characterized

by exaggerated feelings of sadness, despair, discouragement, worthlessness, emptiness
and hopelessness that are sometime inappropriate and out of proportion to reality, or
sometimes resulting from some personal loss or tragedy. Depression is sometime a
deep sense of loss. Most people think that a teenager doesn’t go through severe
depression but they are wrong because it affects people of all ages and both gender.
And here are some other previous related studies about depression.

Gender and Age

 At what stage in life do more females become depressed than males, and why?
There is a 2:1 ratio of depressed females to males throughout the lifespan in
terms of descriptive course, possible causes, and treatment response. However,
childhood depression is more common in boys than in girls. With the transition to
adolescence, depression becomes more prevalent in girls; this trend continues
until middle to late adulthood. Females encounter more stressful negative events
and sexual abuse than males. 1 The stereotypical feminine gender role is
associated with depression more than the masculine gender role. Compared with
males, females have more negative cognitive vulnerabilities, and they tend to
cope through rumination. These different causal explanations can be integrated
into a developmental depression model to understand why more females are
depressed than males. Males and females do not differ in treatment seeking or
response for depression. 2

 "The gap was already present at age 12, which is earlier than previous studies
have found," says Hyde. We used to think that the gender difference emerged at
13 to 15 years but the better data we examined has pushed that down to age
12."3 Although depression can occur at any age, its onset is typically between the
 ages 24 and 44. Later onset may correlate with the absence of a family history of
depression. Fifty percent of people with major depressive disorder experience
their first episode of depression at about age 19, but this may be may be shifting
to the 30s. Studies find that the rate of incidence is higher among middle-aged
people. Teenagers are at risk for depression. The evidence is in teen suicide
rates, which are increasing yearly. The growing rate of depression in this group
may reflect growing pressure on young people to attend college and meet the
high expectations of their peers and parents. Problems with self-esteem may
result from failure or disinterest in meeting these expectations. Low self-esteem
can lead to a negative perspective of life and depression. 4

What causes depression?

While we don’t know exactly what causes depression, a number of things are often
linked to its development. Depression usually results from a combination of recent
events and other longer-term or personal factors, rather than one immediate issue or
event.

Life events

Research suggests that continuing difficulties – long-term unemployment, living in an

abusive or uncaring relationship, death of a loved one, family problem like separation of
the parents, remarry, divorce and problem with income, long-term isolation or
loneliness, prolonged work or school stress – are more likely to cause depression than
recent life stresses. However, recent events (such as losing your job) or a combination
of events can ‘trigger' depression if you’re already at risk because of previous bad
experiences or personal factors.10

Personal factors

 Family history – Depression can run in families and some people will be at an
increased genetic risk. However, having a parent or close relative with
 depression doesn’t mean you’ll automatically have the same experience. Life
circumstances and other personal factors are still likely to have an important
influence.
 Personality – Some people may be more at risk of depression because of their
personality, particularly if they have a tendency to worry a lot, have low self-
esteem, are perfectionists, are sensitive to personal criticism, or are self-critical
and negative.
 Serious medical illness – The stress and worry of coping with a serious illness
can lead to depression, especially if you’re dealing with long-term management
and/or chronic pain.
 Drug and alcohol use – Drug and alcohol use can both lead to and result from
depression. Many people with depression also have drug and alcohol problems.
Over 500,000 Australians will experience depression and a substance use
disorder at the same time, at some point in their lives.10
 Academic reasons – Tons or lots of school works, quizzes, reports and exam
which may cause stress. Poor performance or low grades in school due to peer
pressure, high expectations set by institutions, parents or self or failure. 11
 Breakups or failed relationships – Breakups are much harder in adolescents
since most of them have no serious life responsibilities to keep the mind
concentrated on at that age.11

SYMPTOMS AND SIGN OF DEPRESSION

 Although depression may occur only once during your life, people typically have
multiple episodes. During these episodes, symptoms occur most of the day,
nearly every day and may include:

 Major depression is a mood disorder that affects the way you feel about life
in general. Having a hopeless or helpless outlook on your life is the
most common symptom of depression. Other feelings may be worthlessness,
self-hate, or inappropriate guilt. Common, recurring thoughts of depression
may be vocalized as, “It’s all my fault,” or “What’s the point?” 5

 Depression can take the pleasure or enjoyment out of the things you love. A
loss of interest or withdrawal from activities that you once looked forward
to — sports, hobbies, or going out with friends — is yet another telltale sign
of major depression.5
  Part of the reason you might stop doing things you enjoy is because you feel
very tired. Depression often comes with a lack of energy and an
overwhelming feeling of fatigue, which can be among the most debilitating
symptoms of depression. This could lead to excessive sleeping. Depression
is also linked with insomnia or sleep disturbances, as one might lead to
the other and vice versa. They can also make each other worse. The lack of
quality, restful sleep can also lead to anxiety.
 Research shows that men with depression may have symptoms such as
irritability, escapist or risky behavior, substance abuse, or misplaced anger.
Men are also less likely than women to recognize depression or seek
treatment for it.5

 Weight and appetite can fluctuate for people with depression. This experience
may be different for each person. Some people will have an increased
appetite and gain weight, while others won’t be hungry and will lose
weight. One indication of whether dietary changes are related to depression
is if they’re intentional or not. If they’re not, it may mean that they’re caused
by depression.5

 Depression is sometimes connected with suicide. In 2013, more than 42,000

people died from suicide in the United States, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. People who die by suicide usually show
symptoms first. Often people will talk about it or make a first attempt before
succeeding in ending their life.5

For many people with depression, symptoms usually are severe enough to cause
noticeable problems in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social
activities or relationships with others. Some people may feel generally miserable
or unhappy without really knowing why.

Depression symptoms in children and teens

Common signs and symptoms of depression in children and teenagers are similar to
those of adults, but there can be some differences.
  In younger children, symptoms of depression may include sadness, irritability,
clinginess, worry, aches and pains, refusing to go to school, or being
underweight.
 In teens, symptoms may include sadness, irritability, feeling negative and
worthless, anger, poor performance or poor attendance at school, feeling
misunderstood and extremely sensitive, using recreational drugs or alcohol,
eating or sleeping too much, self-harm, loss of interest in normal activities, and
avoidance of social interaction.6

Depression symptoms in older adults

Depression is not a normal part of growing older, and it should never be taken lightly.
Unfortunately, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated in older adults, and
they may feel reluctant to seek help. Symptoms of depression may be different or less
obvious in older adults, such as:

 Memory difficulties or personality changes

 Physical aches or pain
 Fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep problems or loss of
 Often wanting to stay at home, rather than going out to socialize or doing new
things
 Suicidal thinking or feelings, especially in older men6

Effects of depression on teenager and on their academic school

performances

 Depression in teenagers is a very serious medical problem that leads to long-

lasting feelings of sadness along with a loss of interest in once enjoyed activities.
Teen depression affects the way a teen thinks, feels, behaves, and can lead to
significant emotional, functional, and physical problems. While depression and
other mood disorders may occur at any time in life, the symptoms of depression
experienced by teens may be different than those experienced by adults with
depression. The effects of depression on students can lead on academic failure,
increased school absence, it decreased their motivation, and they prefer to spend
 their time alone rather than interacting with other people. Depression can also
affect the way they think; it slowed their thinking, speaking and also their
movement, challenges with short term memory, difficulty in making decision,
concentration and paying attention.

Treatments and prevention for depression

 There's no one proven way that people recover from depression, and it's
different for everyone. However, there are a range of effective treatments and
health professionals who can help you on the road to recovery.  There are also
plenty of things you can do for yourself to recover and stay well. The important
thing is finding the right treatment and the right health professional for your
needs.7

Psychological treatments for depression

 Psychological treatments (also known as talking therapies) can help you change
your thinking patterns and improve your coping skills so you're better equipped
to deal with life's stresses and conflicts. As well as supporting your recovery,
psychological therapies can also help you stay well by identifying and changing
unhelpful thoughts and behavior. 7

There are several types of effective psychological treatments for depression, as well as
different delivery options, and these are Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT),
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness Based Cognitive
Therapy (MBCT). Some people prefer to work one on one with a professional, while
others get more out of a group environment. A growing number of online programs, or
e-therapies, are also available.7

Medical treatments for depression

  The main medical treatment for depression is antidepressant medication. There's
a lot of misinformation about antidepressant medication and while there is no
simple explanation as to how it works, it can be very useful in the treatment of
moderate to severe depression and some anxiety disorders.

If you're experiencing moderate to severe depression your doctor may prescribe

antidepressant medication, along with psychological treatments. Antidepressants are
sometimes prescribed when other treatments have not been successful or when
psychological treatments aren't possible due to the severity of the condition or a lack
of access to the treatment. People with more severe forms of depression (bipolar
disorder and psychosis) generally need to be treated with medication. This may
include one or a combination of mood stabilizers, anti-psychotic drugs and
antidepressants.8

Other sources of support/ Preventions

 Maintaining healthy lifestyle – Staying well is about finding a balance that

works for you, but there are some general principles that most people find
useful. Reducing and managing your stress levels by making sure that you make
time to do something distracting, relaxing, satisfying or enjoyable each day –
even if you initially feel you can’t be bothered – can also help. You may find it
helps to get the help of a friend or family member to help you stay active. It's
also important to deal with any setbacks and keep trying. 

 Learning about your condition – As with any health condition, the more you
learn and know about depression and anxiety conditions, the better able you will
be to work out what’s right for you. It may be worth talking to your doctor or
mental health professional about what you’ve read if you want to make sure it is
accurate and reliable.
 Support groups and online forums – Support groups for people with
depression and anxiety can provide an opportunity to connect with others, share
 experiences and find new ways to deal with challenges from others who have
experienced the same issues as you. 

 Relaxation training – It calms your body and mind, which in turn helps to
reduce anxious thoughts and behavior. It may also help you feel more in control
of your anxiety. There are several different types of relaxation training, such as
breathing exercises that teach you how to slow down and regulate your
breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation which teaches you to relax by
learning how to tense and then relax specific groups of muscles. Another type of
relaxation training involves thinking of relaxing scenes or places. Relaxation
training can be learned from a professional or done by yourself.
 Family and friends – The people close to you can play an important role in
your recovery by providing support, understanding and help, or just being there
to listen. It can be hard to socialize if you’re experiencing anxiety or depression,
and many people tend to withdraw or avoid social contact. But spending time
alone can make you feel lonelier and cut off from the world, which in turn makes
it harder to recover.9

It is important to try to get out and spend time with your family and
friends, and keep saying ‘yes’ to social invitations – even if it's the last thing you
feel like doing. It can help to talk about how you are feeling with someone who
is caring and supportive. Even if you are not looking for support, it can still be
helpful to let family and friends know what you are going through, so they are
aware. This can help them to support you better.  If you don’t feel like talking
and interacting, try an activity where you don’t have to make conversation, like
watching a movie or playing sport. Staying connected improves your well being
and confidence, and doing some physical activity has the added bonus of helping
you keep fit and bust stress.
 CHAPTER III

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

METHODS OF RESEARCH

 The descriptive method of research was used in this study. Descriptive method
of research is a fact finding study with adequate and accurate interpretation of
the findings, wherein the study is focus on present situations. It involves the
recording, description, analysis and the presentation of the current situation,
conditions, practices or any phenomena. Since the present study is concern with
the effects of depression on student’s academic performances in STI College
Baliuag and ways on how to cope with it, the descriptive methods of research
was the most appropriate methods we can use in our study.

SUBJECTS OF THE STUDY

 The respondents of this study are those senior high school and college student
who were currently studying in STI College Baliuag. We can also consider as our
respondents those staffs and proctors of the said schools that are aware and
have an idea about depression that can help to broaden more our research
study.
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS

 Questionnaire or surveys are instruments used for collecting data in research

study. The researcher will design a questionnaire with both opened and closed
ended questions from the area of research. Simple and easy words were
therefore used in questionnaire to respondents will easily understand, as well as
answer them. The first part in our questionnaire is composed of the respondent’s
name, age and gender while the second part are those questions that are related
in our topic. Possible answers were provided in some questions to enable
respondents think which answer will they find suitable in terms of their response
to the questions. Other questions will also require the respondents to outline
their own opinions. In all, total of 9 questions were given to answered by the
respondents for us to get the answers and information we needed regarding
about in our topic.

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

 We, the researchers had allotted vigorous time, effort and cooperation in
developing our questionnaire so as to serve its intended respondents. After our
Christmas break and New Year’s celebration, our team decided to construct a
questionnaire regarding our topic about the effects of depression on student’s
academic performances in STI Baliuag and ways on how to cope with it. The
survey was created using suitable questions modified from related research and
individual questions formed by us, the researchers. We collected the data by
means of survey questionnaire that compromises their name, age and gender.
The problem encountered by the respondents will be identified through the
second part of the survey questionnaire that was given to them. After
constructing our survey questionnaire, we printed it and we conduct our survey
at STI Baliuag then copies are distributed to our respondents. We explained and
discussed to them the main goal and purpose of our study. After the respondents
have taken the survey questionnaire, we read and checked their answers. After
collecting all the data, we tallied and computed them for interpretation according
to the responds of our respondents.