Depression is more common among 14-year-old girls than among boys of the same age
A recent research developed by researchers from the University of Liverpool and UCL Institute of Education was interested in the mental state of teenagers, and analyzed possible problems reported by teens born between 2000 and 2001. Researchers were interested in the children’s mental health when they were 14, and the results weren’t too encouraging. They found that, at that age, one in four girls is depressed.
There is a depression epidemic nowadays, since more people are struggling for their mental well-being. Unfortunately, this condition affects many young people, and it starts getting quite common from an early age. Researchers assessed the levels of depression of 14-year-olds, and found that one in four girls is depressed. Boys are a bit better, with one in ten suffering from the condition. Even so, the situation is really worrying.
Researchers had the teens talk about their emotional problems, and then assessed their mental state at the age of 14. From the 10,000 children who took part in the study, 24 percent of girls and 9 percent of boys were depressed at 14. Boys seemed better in this sense, but they exhibited more problems with their behavior, such as being rebel or fighting.
Parents don’t always observe depression in their children
Also, one of the main factors which influenced the development of depression was the economic state. Therefore, children from richer families had fewer chances of developing depression than those with a precarious financial situation. Ethnicity is, again, important. Depression rates were higher among white children, or among those with mixed racial backgrounds.
Their parents were also interviewed, and had to report any changes they had observed in their children’s behavior and emotional state. They were usually able to tell when something was wrong, but many of them underestimated their daughters’ depression. However, those who had sons seemed more attentive.
“Conversely, parents may be picking up on symptoms in their sons, which boys don’t report themselves.”
This is both good and worrying. If you feel like your child is not fine, but he doesn’t want to talk about it, there might really be something wrong. However, you should never think the child is overreacting. Any change in their behavior might be a dangerous sign, especially at such a sensitive age.
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