RESEARCH PROPOSAL - Depression in teens

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the subject NGEC 5: Purposive Communication

Submitted to

Cathyrine B. Homecillo – Fabrero, Instructor

Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation

College of Maritime Education

Educational Systems Technological Institute – Boac

By

Julius Ogbac

Ed Paulo Magallanes

Ken Clarence Rosales

Raiven Sandoy

Bj Rocha

Kurt valenzuela

Rosevelt landoy

February 13, 2024

Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1

Background and Context --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2

Problem Statement ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Research questions ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Relevance and importance of the research ----------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Literature review ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

Key concepts, theories and studies -----------------------------------------------------------------------------4

Key debates, and controversies ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

Gaps in existing knowledge -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6

Research design and methods --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7

Aims and objectives ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7

Methods and sources -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7

Practicalities and potential obstacles -------------------------------------------------------------------------7

Implications and contributions to knowledge ---------------------------------------------------------------- 8

Practical implications --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8

Theoretical implications ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8

Reference list ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9

RESEARCH PROPOSAL DEPRESSION IN TEENS

Depression is identified as a mood disorder that can affect the daily life of an individual, whereby
basically at the moment teenagers are the most affected with depression due to the various
predisposing factors that expose them to depression. Teens are relatively young and range from the
ages of 11 to 19 years. The fact that depression in teens has become a pressing issue is only right that
someone investigates this aspect, and that will be the focus of the research. At the moment teen
depression has been identified as a serious mental health problem which causes persistent feeling of
loss of interest and sadness. Depression affects how the teen feels, thinks and behaves, and this can
cause functional, emotional and physical problems. Depression basically can occur at any age; the
symptoms may differ between adults and teens. The predisposing factors that had been identified
before including; academic expectations, peer pressure and changing bodies. Teen depression can have
serious consequences such as suicide and it is not something that can be tackled with willpower, mostly
it should be treated with psychological counseling and medication. Therefore, this research will seek to
answer the following question: What are the impacts of depression on physical and mental health on
teens? The testable Hypothesis: Depression has various effects on the physical and mental health of
teens.

Background and Context

Depression has recently become the leading cause of disability worldwide (World Health Organization,
2017). In high-income countries, such as the US, UK and Canada, its economic impact is staggering, both
in terms of productivity losses and direct health care costs (Greenberg et al., 2015; Conference Board of
Canada, 2016; Thomas and Morris, 2003). Left untreated, the condition can cause significant suffering to
individuals and their families. In many high-income countries, such as in the US and Canada, evidence-
based treatments are largely available; but gaps in the quality of care persists as a large proportion of
people with depression receive mental health care that do not meet the most basic criteria for
treatment adequacy (Thornicroft et al., 2017; Puyat et al., 2016). In low-income countries, such as the
Philippines, depression is also a leading cause of disability. A report released by the World Health
Organization has estimated that the overall prevalence of depression in the Philippines is 3.3%, (World
Health Organization, 2017) suggesting that about 3.3 million Filipinos are experiencing depressive
symptoms based on the 2015 population estimate (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2016).

Problem Statement

Teenage depression is a growing problem in today's society and is often a major contributing factor for a
multitude of adolescent problems. The statistics about teenage runaways,
alcoholism, drug problems, pregnancy, eating disorders, and suicide are alarming. Even more startling
are the individual stories behind these statistics because the young people involved come from all
communities, all economic levels, and all home situations-anyone's family. The common link is often
depression. For the individuals experiencing this crisis, the statistics become relatively meaningless.

Research Questions

1. Therefore, this research will seek to answer the following question: What are the impacts of
depression on physical and mental health on teens? The testable Hypothesis: Depression has various
effects on the physical and mental health of teens.

Teenage depression has significant implications for public health, affecting a substantial portion of the
adolescent population globally. Understanding the causes, risk factors, and potential interventions is
crucial for developing effective public health strategies. Untreated teenage depression can lead to
severe long-term consequences, impacting educational attainment, career prospects, and overall life
satisfaction. Investigating and addressing this issue early can prevent or mitigate these long-lasting
effects.

Literature review

· Key Concepts, Theories and studies

Depression should be understood in the form of paradoxes. According to Beck and Alford (2009),
depression is considered a clinical syndrome. Depression is considered as an exaggeration of the mood
which is experienced by a normal person. Depression is completely different from the normal mood of
the individuals in both terms qualitative and quantitative (Beck and Alford 2009). Depression is not only
a kind of disease but is also a form of reaction. Depression is mainly caused due to the stress
experienced by the individuals due to some psychological factors. In some other circumstances, conflicts
among individuals also give rise to the situation of depression.

The term “depression” is used in everyday language for the description of several experiences that
range from temporary and slightly noticeable decreases in the mood to an impaired and life-threatening
disorders. It is common among women and people with other chronic conditions. If depression is left
untreated, it can disrupt family life, personal life and can severely disrupt work. However, many of these
consequences can be avoided as depression can be treated if people who are depressed seek treatment.

Robbins (2008) states that it is necessary to recognize symptoms of the depression at initial stages
themselves as nine characteristic symptoms of depression are depressed

mood, loss or gain of weight, lack of interest in usual day-to-day activities, excessive sleep or insomnia,
feeling of worthlessness, fatigue, less concentration or indecisiveness, thoughts of suicide, and feeling of
retardation

According to Beck and Alford (2009), the nature of depression is subject to different opinions of
psychologists. According to some authorities, depression is a kind of psychogenic disorder while as per
some other depression is mainly caused due by some organic factors. In the field of mental health,
depression is considered the most critical problem for the physical as well as mental health of
individuals. This has been seen that majority of the humans are suffering from the problem of
depression other than some different diseases (Beck and Alford 2009)

· Key debates and controversies

According to Karen L. Swartz (2007), depression mainly arises from anxiety, sadness, grief, and elation.
Depression is mainly caused as a result of such kinds of emotions. Depression is not exactly a mood
disorder but has some sort of similarity with a mood disorder. Depression is a kind of family affair that
has its links to bipolar disorder. Several genetic mutations give rise to depression among children. As per
the nature of depression, it has been seen that when a person’s parents or grandparents suffer from
severe depression, they have a greater degree of risk for depression (Swartz 2007)

· Both men and women view depression differently. Women consider depression to be a health
problem, while most men take depression as emotional weakness. Therefore, they hide their feelings as
they are socially conditioned. If depression is left untreated, it can prove life-threatening. People who
are depressed limit their social activities and tend to remain cut off from their family, friends, and
community. As they are less satisfied with their life, they are not able to solve their problems with
efficiency with which normal people without depression can solve. Depressed people are less satisfied
with their family and friendship life (Depression: A treatable disease 2000)

· Gaps in existing knowledge

Kantor (2007) discusses the problem of depression saying that depression has become a modern disease
as lifestyles are becoming more demanding, require more money, and need more time. This has brought
limits to people’s minds, emotions, and life. It, thus, brings in emotional, physical, and mental suffering
to adults and young ones. Teenagers of today’s society are at high risk of experiencing depression as
society has set certain standards for them which are greater, that leads to building up of stressful
factors.
The article suggests a lack of awareness among people and mental health literacy about depression in
adults and children. The author attributes childhood depression to a genetic problem, certain types of
chemical imbalance, or how the

child is raised. Stress is also one of the major causes of depression in children and adults. It is
recommended that children and adults with depression should seek treatment from psychiatrists,
physicians, and psychiatric hospitals. Examination of the full spectrum of problems related to mental
health and reasons that are responsible for different adult and child problems can provide guidance to
treat depression in children and adults.

Research design and methods

This study aims to investigate the prevalence and contributing factors of teenage depression in today's
society, employing a mixed-methods research design for a comprehensive understanding. The
quantitative phase will involve a structured survey administered to a diverse sample of teenagers aged
13 to 18 across various socio-economic backgrounds, educational settings, and geographic locations. The
survey will utilize validated scales such as the Beck Depression Inventory for Youth to assess the severity
of depressive symptoms. Additionally, demographic information, social media usage, and familial
dynamics will be collected. The qualitative phase will consist of in-depth interviews with a subset of
participants selected from the survey respondents to delve deeper into their experiences and
perspectives. Semi-structured interviews will allow for exploration of nuanced aspects such as peer
relationships, academic pressures, and the impact of social media on mental health. The triangulation of
quantitative and qualitative data will enhance the validity and reliability of the findings, providing a
more holistic understanding of teenage depression in the contemporary context. Ethical considerations,
including informed consent and participant confidentiality, will be rigorously upheld throughout the
research process

Implications and contributions to knowledge

The Impact of depression on the physical and mental health of teens is a serious issue thatthe research
aims to cover. As McMahon et al. 2017, had established before that physical activityis tied to depression
and wellness, in the sense that more physical activity results to more wellness and less depression. It is a
faint clue that these two aspects are tied together. Just as the other authors have looked at the same
matter, it is important to understand that the results of this study will help is dealing with this issue that
is affecting a lot of teenagers, to the point of suicide. Hopefully the seriousness of depression will be
expressed with this report
Depression among teenagers is a serious and prevalent issue that requires attention and understanding.
It can stem from a variety of factors, including biological, psychological, and environmental influences.
The impact of depression on teenagers can be profound, affecting their academic performance,
relationships, and overall well-being. Early identification and intervention are crucial to address
depression among teenagers and prevent long-term consequences. Supportive environments, open
communication, access to mental health resources, and destigmatizing conversations about mental
health are essential in addressing depression among teenagers effectively.

References
1. Swartz, K. L. 2007. Depression and Anxiety. Johns Hopkins Health.-

2. Beck, A. T., and Alford, B. A. 2009. Depression: causes and treatments. 2nd ed. University of
Pennsylvania Press. -

3. Robbins, P.R. 2008. Understanding Depression. McFarland.-

4. Perry, B. L., Pescosolido, B. A., Martin, J. K., McLeod, J.D. and Jensen, P. S. 2007. Comparison of Public
Attributions, Attitudes, and Stigma regarding Depression among Children and Adults. American
Psychiatric Association 58(5), pp. 632-635.-

5. Depression: A treatable disease. 2000. Online. Available at: