Vidyabharati International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (Special Issue)
ISSN 2319-4979
ASSESSMENT OF DEPRESSION AMONG ADOLESCENTS
Bharat Kumar1, Dr.Gurbir Dullet2
1
Ph.D Scholar, Psychology, Himalayan Garhwal University, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India,
2
Assistant Professor, Himalayan Garhwal University, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India
singhal.bharat@rediffmail.com
_______________________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
The focus of this research was to find out how common depression is among adolescents. Assessment, comparisons,
and evaluation were employed for descriptive approach. A total of 1500 adolescents from private and public schools
were assessed. Equal numbers of male and female adolescents were picked from government and private schools by
using convenient method. The depression level was assessed by using the T. Aeron Beck depression. For statistical test
and to determine if there was a noteworthy significant difference in the level of depression, the mean, coefficient of
variation, and t-test were used. As per statistical analysis of score, 13.53% adolescents are facing severe level of
depression. 31.4% are facing moderate depression and 43.6% are facing mild level of depression. Male adolescents
are having higher level of depression (44.93%) as compared with 40.47% female adolescents. Total 17.07 %
adolescents in government schools are facing higher depression as compared with 10 % adolescents of private schools.
It is observed that more adolescents of government schools are fronting higher depression than with adolescents of
private schools. Substantial difference is perceived in the degree of depression among adolescents learning in private a
government school and between male and female adolescents. It is suggested that corrective measures should be taken
by schools to improve mental health of adolescents..
________________________________________________________________________________
Keywords: Adolescents, Depression, Private schools, Government schools.
Introduction
Education is valued in Indian culture because
of its set of historical values. The integrity of
the system has been praised, and it is firmly
linked to social importance. The educational
framework is more workbooks focused, with
a concentration on cramming lessons, which
necessitates studying for lengthy periods of
time and on a daily basis. This demanding
routine of studying from morning to night
provides little or no time for socializing and
pleasure. Individual or occupational quality
is not used to identify who is a good student.
Instead, academically brilliance is used to
determine who is a great student. This might
make parents’ worry that their children may
fail to achieve this level, and this fear of
failure, which creates a continual pressure,
resulting in adolescents experiencing chronic
strain and poor academic performance which
creates a continuous anxiety among
adolescents ending in depression. It is found
from some studies that the adolescents
studying in government schools are less
prone to face depression than the adolescents
of private schools and vice-versa. A
comparative assessment of depression of
adolescents studying in private and
government school will explore the fact in
present time. The current research was thus
commenced to evaluate the prevalence and
grade of depression among adolescent of
class 11th and 12th studying in various
schools affiliated to CBSE Boards in
Dehradun city.
Review of literature
Depression disturbs on an average 10 percent
population of India; nonetheless daily
concerns are driving more Indians over the
edge,
according
to
physicians before World psychological
state Day (Iyer, 2013). Depression is amongst
the most common disorders on the globe, and
it is a major consideration when it comes to
psychological issues (Sarokhani et al., 2013).
The topic of student psychological health is a
worldwide subject that distresses all
established and emerging countries, as well
as contemporary and traditional civilizations
(Bayram, 2008). Young individuals confront
numerous conflicts and demands to achieve
during the academic careers, particularly at
university (Arslan et al, 2009). It's critical to
be aware of issues about adolescents’ mental
health. Adolescents’ mental health issues are
widely researched at many didactic levels,
including college and university. (Bayram,
2008). Several studies found that students
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Vidyabharati International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (Special Issue)
had a higher frequency of psychological
disorders, such as depression, than the rest of
society. (Yusoff et al.,2013).
In psychology, depression can be a sign of a
mood illness (Wolpert, 2000). Despondency
significantly lowers people’s choices and
their communities' quality of life, may be a
peril cause for suicide, and can exacerbate
effects of various chronic well-being issues.
(Worley, 2006). Depression is third greatest
reason of worldwide illness encumbrance,
contributing for 4.3 percent of entire mental
illness life ages in terms of public health
importance. By the year 2030, if present
trends persist, it will be the major cause of
illness
impact.
(Üstün
et.al,
2004;
Thirunavukarasu, 2010). In India, a
comprehensive relatively large investigation
using stringent techniques revealed a 15.9%
absolute prevalence of depressive symptoms
(Poongothai et al, 2009). Males and females
differ considerably in mental stability, a
component of emotional intelligence,
according to Kumar B. (2018), even those
with late intellectual capacity are more likely
to experience depression. There has been
some speculation that the rate of
hypertension has risen in recent decades
(Nandi, et.al, 2000) Depression was detected
in 21-84 percent of all patients in studies
conducted in India's healthcare facilities
(Amin et al, 1998).
Research Problem
To assess the degree of depression among
adolescents.
Objectives
1. To investigate the degree of depression
among adolescents.
2. To investigate the degree of depression
among adolescents based on gender.
3. To investigate the levels of depression
among male adolescents based on school type.
4. To investigate the levels of depression
among female adolescents based on school
type.
Hypotheses Of Study
1.
There is no statistically meaningful
difference in the level of depression among
adolescents based on gender.
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2.
There is no statistically meaningful
difference in the levels of depression among
adolescents based on school type.
3.
There is no statistically meaningful
difference in the levels of depression among
male adolescents based on school type.
4.
There is no statistically meaningful
difference in the levels of depression among
female adolescents based on school type.
5.
There is no statistically meaningful
difference in the levels of depression between
adolescent based on gender studying in private
schools.
6.
There is no statistically meaningful
difference in the levels of depression between
adolescent based on gender studying in
government schools.
Research Methodology
Tools Used For Data Collection To analyze
the level of depression, BDI II, standardized
psychological scale developed by Aaron T.
Beck (1996) was used.
Population For present study, the population is
the adolescents studying in class 11th and 12th
in private and government schools affiliated to
CBSE located in Dehradun city.
Sample Lay Out Convenient method was used
to select 1500 adolescents from Dehradun city,
Uttarakhand. Out of 1500 adolescents, 750
were selected from 15 government schools and
750 from 15 private schools. From each school
25 male and 25 female adolescents were
selected (Table: 1).
Table: 1 Sample Layout
School
Categ
ory
No
. of
Sc
ho
ols
Number and Location
of
Schools
in
Dehradun City
M
ale
N
or
th
Privat
e
Gover
nment
Total
Adolesce
nts
15
3
S
o
ut
h
3
15
3
3
30
30
E
a
st
W
es
t
Ce
ntr
e
3
3
3
3
3
3
Fe
ma
le
25+25
from
each
school
37 37
5
5
37 37
5
5
75 75
0
0
Statistical Analysis of Data On the basis of the
scores obtained, sample was divided into four
categories. Percentage, mean and standard
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Vidyabharati International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (Special Issue)
deviation were calculated for different
categories of depression level (Table: 2). t-test
was applied to compare depression scores with
regard to gender and types of schools.
Table: 2 Depression Scores Of Adolescents
Cate
gory
of
Depr
essio
n
Adole
scents
Male
Adolescents
%
N
%
M
ea
n
SD
N
%
M
ea
n
SD
Mini
mal
T
o
t
a
l
1
7
2
7
3
9.
7
3
1
0
2.3
54
9
9
1
3.
2
9.
2
0
2.5
87
3
0
2
4
0.
2
7
3
2
1
6
1.6
05
3
5
2
2.9
04
2
3
1
5
4.
6
7
2
5.
5
4
8.4
03
6
8
9.
6
7
1
5.
3
0
2
4.
2
2
5
2
1.3
90
2
6
4
6.
9
3
3
0.
8
15.
20
8
7
5
0
1
0
0
2
0.
8
8
11.
67
1
Mild
6
5
4
1
1.
4
7
4
3.
6
Mod
erate
4
7
1
3
1.
4
2
4
0
Seve
re
2
0
3
1
3
5
1
8
Total
1
5
0
0
1
3.
5
3
1
0
0
7
5
0
1
0
0
Female
Adolescents
3.0
78
7.7
69
Depression Profile of Adolescents Based on
Gender and Type of Schools Out of 750 male
adolescents, 18 % have severe depression. 32
% adolescents have moderate depression. 40.27
% adolescents have mild level of depression
and 9.73 % have minimal level of depression.
Among female adolescents 9.67 % have severe
depression, 30.8 % female adolescents have
moderate depression. 46.93 % female
adolescents have mild level of depression and
13.2 % have minimal level of depression
(Table: 2). It means more male adolescents are
facing higher level of depression as compared
with females.
Table: 3 Depression Scores Of Adolescents
Based on School Type
Catego
ry of
Depres
sion
Adolescents
N
%
Minim
al
1
0
6
3
4
14.
13
Mild
Private Schools
46
Government Schools
Me
an
9.3
5
SD
N
%
2.58
66
8.8
15.
74
1.36
3
30
9
41.
2
Me
an
9.4
4
SD
15.
72
1.2
0
2.7
9
Moder
ate
Severe
Total
5
2
2
4
7
5
7
5
0
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29.
87
24.
88
2.96
2
24
7
32.
93
25.
14
2.3
56
10
53.
76
21.
78
4.83
2
12.4
49
12
8
75
0
17.
07
10
0
54.
09
24.
29
4.5
28
13.
65
10
0
Table:3 reveals that adolescents studying in
government schools are facing higher level of
depression as compared with those studying in
private schools. 17.07 % of government school
adolescents are facing severe level of
depression as compared with 10 % of private
school adolescents while at minimal level of
depression, 14.13 % adolescents of private
schools are present as compared with 8.8 % of
government school adolescents. At moderate
level of depression very less difference is
observed between adolescents of private and
government schools but greater difference is
observed at sever and minimal level.
Comparison of Depression Scores of Male
Adolescents Based on School Type Table: 4
shows that more male adolescents of
government schools are facing severe
depression (21.6%) as compared with male
adolescents of private schools (14.4%). 34.4 %
male adolescents of government schools have
moderate level as compared with 29.6 %
private school adolescents. 43.47 % private
school male adolescents come under mild level
of depression as compared with 37.07 %
adolescents from government schools. More
male adolescents of private school 12.53%)
have minimal level of depression as compared
with adolescents of government schools
(6.93%). It’s clear that more male adolescents
of government schools are facing high
depression as compared with adolescents
studying in private schools.
Table: 4 Depression Scores of Male Based
on School Type
Cate
gory
Of
Depr
essio
n
Mini
mal
Male Adolescents
Mild
1
6
3
Pvt. School
Govt. School
N %
M
ea
n
S
D
N %
M
ea
n
4
7
9.
47
2.
41
8
1.
43
1
2
6
6.
93
9.
62
1
3
9
37
.0
7
16
.2
6
12
.5
3
43
.4
7
15
.5
7
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S
D
3.
25
1
1.
38
5
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Mod
erate
Seve
re
Total
1
1
1
5
4
29
.6
3
7
5
23
.6
14
.4
24
.4
0
53
.6
1
23
.0
6
3.
01
6
5.
12
6
13
.7
99
1
2
9
8
1
34
.4
3
7
5
10
0
21
.6
26
.3
6
56
.7
0
28
.0
1
2.
32
2
4.
26
5
16
.1
63
Comparison of Depression Scores of Female
Adolescents Based on School Type Table: 5
reveals that out of 375 private schools female
adolescents, 59 of them come under minimal
depression (15.73 %), 182 adolescents have
mild depression (48.53%). 113 adolescents
have moderate level of depression (30.13 %)
and 21 adolescents have severe level of
depression (5.6 %). While out of 375 female
adolescents studying in government schools,
40 have minimal depression, 170 falls under
mild category and 118 are at moderate level
and 47 adolescents come under severe level.
It’s clear that near about double number of
female adolescents of government schools are
facing severe level of depression as compared
with female adolescents of private schools,
while difference at moderate level is not too
high. In this way high depression can be
observed among government school female
adolescents as compared with female
adolescents studying in private schools.
Table: 5 Depression Scores Of Female
Adolescents Based on School Type
Categ
ory
Of
Depre
ssion
Mini
mal
Mild
Mode
rate
Sever
e
Total
Female Adolescents
Private School
Government
School
N % M S
N % M
ea D
ea
n
n
59 15 9. 2. 4 10 9.
.7 22 74 0 .6 25
3
2
7
18 48 15 1. 1 45 15
2 .5 .9 29 7 .3 .1
3 1 5
0 3
8
11 30 25 2. 1 31 23
3 .1 .3 90 1 .4 .9
3 5 8
8 7
2
21 5. 53 4. 4 12 51
6 .9 53 7 .5 .4
1 8
3
9
37 10 20 11 3 10 20
5 0 .5 .0 7 0
.5
0 99 5
7
S
D
2.
32
9
1.
01
5
2.
38
9
4.
79
1
11
.1
37
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Analysis of Depression Scores of Adolescents
Based on Gender Type
At a 1% significance level, the value of t is
6.6572, which is higher than the tabulated
value. As a consequence, we could rule out the
null hypothesis and conclude that a meaningful
statistical difference in depression level exists
among adolescents based on gender. (Table 6).
Table: 6 t-Value Table for Depression Of
among Adolescents Based on Gender
No.
of
Adolescents
Mal Fem
e
ale
750 750
t
valu
e
Df
SE
D
P
Valu
e
Result
6.657
2
149
8
0.70
0
<0.00
01
Extrem
ely
signific
ant
Analysis of Depression Scores of Adolescents
Based on School Type
At a 1% significance level, the computed t
value is greater than the table value for
depression scores of adolescents in private and
government schools. This indicates that a big
disparity exists. As a result, the second the null
hypothesis is rejected, and it is determined that
there is a meaningful statistical difference in
the extent of depression experienced by
adolescents attending private and government
schools in the Dehradun. (Table: 7)
Table: 7 t-Value Table of the Level Of
Depression Of Adolescents Based on School
Type
No.
of
Adolescent
s
Pvt. Govt
.
750 750
t
valu
e
Df
SE
D
P
Valu
e
Result
3.72
08
149
8
0.6
75
0.000
2
Extrem
ely
Signifi
cant
Analysis of Depression Scores of Male
Adolescents One aim of this research was to
associate male adolescents studying in private
and government schools with respect to their
depression level.
Table: 8 Significant Differences in
Depression Level Of Male Adolescents
Type
of
School
P G
vt ov
t
va
lu
e
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D
f
S
E
D
P
Val
ue
Resu
lt
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Vidyabharati International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (Special Issue)
N
.
3
7
5
t.
37
5
4.5 7
14 4
8
1.
0
9
7
<0.
000
1
Extre
mely
Signi
fican
t
From table 8, at a significant level of 1%, the tvalue is 4.514 which are higher as compared to
table value. As a result, the t-value is crucial.
So, the third null hypothesis is rejected, and it
may be inferred that there must be a
considerable difference in the severity of
depression among male adolescents attending
private versus government school in Dehradun.
Analysis of Depression Scores of Female
Adolescents Table:9 reveal that t-value for
total depression scores is 0.0899 that is not
momentous at 1% level of implication. Hence
4th null hypothesis is acknowledged. So it can
be established that there is nearby no
noteworthy difference in degree of depression
between female adolescents learning in private
and public schools in Dehradun city.
Table: 9 t- Value Table for The Level Of
Depression Of Female Based on School Type
N
Type of
School
Pv Go
t.
vt.
37 375
5
t
val
ue
Df
SE
D
P
Val
ue
Resu
lt
0.0
862
74
8
0.
81
2
0.93
13
Not
Signi
ficant
Analysis of Depression Scores of Adolescents
Studying in Private Schools As per data of
table 10, t-value is 2.795 which is significant at
1% level of significance. Consequently the 5th
null hypothesis is vetoed. It mean a significant
difference exist in the depression level of
adolescents based on gender attending private
schools.
Table: 10 Significant Differences in
Depression Level Of Adolescents Studying
in Private Schools
No.
of
Adolescents
t
value
Df
Mal
e
375
2.795
748
Fema
le
375
SE
D
P
Valu
e
Result
0.91
5
0.005
3
Signific
ant
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Analysis of Depression Scores of Adolescents
Studying in Government Schools
As per t-value mentioned in table 11, the tvalue for overall depression score is 7.337
which is greater than p-value at 1% level of
significance. So t-value is significant. As a
result, the sixth null hypothesis is ruled out. It
mean a significant difference exist in the
depression level of adolescents based on
gender attending government schools.
Table: 11 Significant Differences in
Depression Level Of Adolescents Studying
in Government Schools
No.
of
Adolescen
ts
Ma Fem
le
ale
375 375
t
valu
e
Df
SE
D
P
Valu
e
Result
7.33
7
748
1.0
14
<0.0
001
Signifi
cant
Interpretation And Discussion
1.
Among male and female adolescents,
more males have higher level of depression as
compared with females.
2.
Adolescents studying in government
schools are facing more depression as
compared with adolescents studying in private
schools.
3.
Male
adolescents
studying
in
government schools are facing higher
depression level as compared with those
studying in private schools.
4.
Among female adolescents, those
studying in government and private schools, no
specific difference are in the level of
depression than those studying in private
schools.
Conclusion
According to the outcomes of this learning,
there is a substantial variance in depression
levels between male and female adolescents, as
well as across different types of schools. As a
result, it is critical to engage with those
adolescents who have greater levels of
depression in order to fulfil all of the
educational goals. The study revealed that the
adolescents of government schools of
Dehradun are more prone to face higher levels
of depression. Adolescents studying in private
schools have better condition of depression
levels. All the adolescents had not enjoyed the
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Vidyabharati International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (Special Issue)
lower level of depression. Therefore, necessary
facilities should be made available for
increasing quality of education to lower down
the depression and creating an effective
teaching-learning environment in every
institution of the state.
Limitations

Study is limited to 1500 adolescents
studying in private and government schools of
CBSE board located in Dehradun city.
Suggestions

Anxiety levels of middle school
students and college level students could have
been assessed to make it a comparative one.

It is suggested that study could be
directed in other cities to increase completeness
of its conclusions.
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
A study may be conducted on large
sample to search very definite conclusions
regarding anxiety and Depression.

Anxiety and Depression of the
adolescents of various disciplines like natural
sciences and social sciences can be measured
and compared.

A study should be conducted to find out
the remedial measures for the anxiety.
The investigation was not sponsored by any
organization.
Conflict Of Interest
Author has acknowledged that no contending
attentiveness occurs.
Acknowledgements
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