Chapter I

The Problem and Its Setting

A. Introduction

According to Constance Hammen (2009) of University of California, Los

Angeles, “Depression is heterogeneous in its manifestations and clinical course, and

more than likely there are multiple etiological pathways and possibly different forms of

the disorder.” On the contrary, depression differs from regular sadness. Whereas, it lasts

longer and also affects more than just a person’s mood. Usually, during adolescence

occurs depression.

“Adolescent depression is a captivating topic for several reasons. Rates of youth

depression are the highest of all psychological disorders in this age group; the disorder

affects millions of youngsters and their families (Hammen, 2009).” Nowadays, teenagers

feel depression when they are alone. They may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless,

worried, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, hurt, or restless. Furthermore, both boys and

girls have the tendency to be depressed. Girls have the high risk to be depressed compare

to boys. It is not on puberty stage will show off the signs of depression. It is on young

adulthood stage.

According to statistics, about 20% of teenagers will experience depression.

Between 10 to 15% of teens have some symptoms of teenage depression at any one time.

And about 5% of teenagers suffer from major depression (Teenage Depression Statistics,

2010).

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It is a very typical disorder among all ages particularly in teenagers. It is because

teenagers’ affect their social interactions, school achievements and the like. There are

several factors that can cause teenage depression. The researchers cite some of the several

factors causing teenage depression. Some factors causing teenage depression are the

normal process of maturing and the stress that occurs with it, the influence of sex

hormones, independence conflicts with parents, the death of a friend or relative, breakup

with a boyfriend or girlfriend, failure at school, bullying or harassment at school or

somewhere else, child abuse - both physical and sexual, lack of social skills, learning

disabilities, long-term illness, poor parenting or care giving, stressful life events, such as

the loss of a parent to death or divorce.

The said factors causing teenage depression are the focus of this study.

Furthermore, this study will also tackle about the coping mechanisms of depression

among teenagers on how it will be done. Some of the coping mechanisms of teenage

depression are supportive care from a medical provider (e.g., psychologists, psychiatrist),

talk therapy, and antidepressants medications. In talk therapy, there are ways on how talk

therapy be done. These are Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Family Therapy,

Psychotherapy, and Interpersonal Therapy.

The relevance of this study in the field of psychology is that psychologists always

encounter this kind of disorder with their clients. Since, it is a typical problem

particularly in teenagers. The researchers choose this topic because they want to know the

factors causing teenage depression and the coping mechanisms of selected psychology

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students in Bulacan State University. In this study, the researchers also want to know

what the very common causes of teenage depression are.

B. Statement of the Problem

The main purpose of this study is to determine the factors causing teenage

depression and the coping mechanisms of selected psychology students in Bulacan State

University.

Specifically, it will try to answer the following questions:

1) What causes depression among teenagers?

2) How do teenagers cope from depression?

C. Significance of the Study

Upon completion, this study will be significant to the following:

o Other psychology students

In this study, they will know when they will be depressed and when they are

depressed. And how will they prevent the things that will cause them depression.

o Other teenagers

In this study, they will more inform about the factors that causes depression and

the coping mechanisms of it.

o Parents

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In this study, they will be alert of what is happening to their children when they

undergo depression and they will be able to know how to help their children to cope from

it.

o Future Researchers

In this study, they will help the respondents, the people around them about this

topic in their own way. And also, as an individual, they can also apply it in their selves.

D. Scope and Delimitation

Out of 750 Psychology students of Bulacan State University, only 100 students

are use as a sample in conducting the survey. This study only measure 100 tertiary

Psychology Students of Bulacan State University. Each of the respondents is given the

same questionnaires to answer. Its focus is to identify the common problems that

they encounter and to propose solutions regarding these problems. The study tackled

about teenage depression. What the researchers can do about it and what causes it. And

also, it shows that depression can lead many things.

It will be limited the main campus and will not include other campuses of Bulacan

State University. It will be excluded the drug addicts, mental illness, secondary students

and other courses.

E. Definition of Terms

The following terms will be defined conceptually or operationally.

1. Depression

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- A psychological marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in

thinking and concentration; and feelings of dejection (Merriam-Webster

Dictionary, 2004).

2. Adolescence Depression/Teenage Depression

- Is a captivating topic for several reasons. Rates of youth depression are the

highest of all psychological disorders in this age group; the disorder

affects millions of youngsters and their families (Hammen, 2009).

3. Teenagers

- The years thirteen to nineteen in a person’s life (Merriam-Webster

Dictionary, 2004).

4. Coping Mechanisms

- Involves managing taxing circumstances, expending effort to solve life’s

problems, and seeking to master or reduce stress (Santrock, 2008).

5. Talk therapy

- Term used to reference the many types of sessions held between a

therapist (a mental health professional of any discipline) and a patient

(Purse, 2007).

6. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

- Type of psychotherapy that targets the “cognitive” (thinking-related) and

“behavioural” (action-related) aspects of psychological conditions

(Salters-Pedneault, 2010).

7. Interpersonal Therapy

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- Type of treatment for patients with depression which focuses on past and

present social roles and interpersonal interactions (Schimelpfening, 2011).

8. Psychotherapy

- Process focused on helping you heal and learn more constructive ways to

deal with the problems or issues within life (Grohol, 2012).

9. Family Therapy

- Involves a whole family, or several family members, and meeting with the

therapists (Holmes, 2006).

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Chapter II

Review of Related Studies and Literature

This chapter represents the topic about the factors causing teenage depression and the

coping mechanisms of selected psychology students at Bulacan State University. Its goal is to

help the respondents how to cope up from suffering depression.

A. Related Theories

The Psychoanalytic Theory states that the potential for depression is created early

in childhood, during the oral period. In Freud’s theory, when the person's needs are

insufficiently or overly gratified, the person becomes fixated in the oral stage. In this

case, the development may cause the person to become excessively dependent on other

people for the maintenance of self-esteem. He hypothesizes that after the loss of a loved

one – whether by death, separation, or withdrawal of affection the mourner identifies

with the lost one – perhaps in a fruitless attempt to undo the loss (Kring, Johnson,

Davison, & Neale, 2010).

One of the said factors of teenage depression is the death of a friend or relative.

Losing someone they love triggers depression. In this case, teenagers tend to blame

themselves, they feel alone and angry in this kind of situation. The Psychoanalytic theory

of Freud is related in this study because having inadequate childhood experiences can

affect in later life in adolescence.

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In connection with the Psychoanalytic Theory, Beck’s Cognitive Theory states

that people develop depression because their thinking is negative. Beck proposes that

depression is associated with the negative triad: negative views of the self, the world and

the future. According to this model, people with depression acquired negative schemata

through experiences such as loss of a parent, the social rejection of peers, or the

depressive attitude of a parent (Kring, Johnson, Davison, & Neale, 2010).

In this theory, teenagers think negative thoughts or feedbacks from other people

about themselves and more likely they remember this information at the back of their

mind. And they might not notice or remember the positive feedbacks about themselves.

Beck’s Cognitive Theory is related in this study because teenagers think negative about

themselves and about other people opinions towards them in which they end up being

depressed.

Furthermore, in related with the Psychoanalytic Theory and Beck’s Cognitive

Theory, The Learned Helplessness Theory suggests that the type of stressful event most

likely to lead to depression is an uncontrollable negative event. People believe they are

helpless to control important outcomes in their environment. In turn, this belief in

helplessness leads people to lose their motivation and reduce their actions that might

control the environment and they are unable to learn how to control situations that are

controllable (Noelen-Hoeksema, 2011; Seligman, 1975).

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Teenagers nowadays, thinks that they cannot control certain events or situations in

their lives. They lose motivation and hope. Especially, when they feel depress. They

think that they cannot control or solve the problem. They do not find answers to their

questions or solutions to their problems. And not even thinking that they can do make

things right. They just let their selves be depressed.

B. Related Studies

McLean (2003) found out that an understanding was gained of the direction on

educational programme that serves a basis for intervention in the field of adolescent

depression should have. She highlighted some of the problems in the field of adolescent

depression and made recommendations for further research.

In comparison with Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory, they both cite some factors

that cause teenage depression. On the contrary, McLean (2003) and Kring, et al. (2010)

have different views. McLean found out that there is a way to cope up from being

depressed of the teenagers. While, Kring, et al. (2010) said that in Freud’s theory, a

person that is dependent on other people, later in life, blame his self when he lose his

dependant.

In connection with McLean’s (2003) conclusion, Moffatt (2007) concluded that it

is needed to pay off more attention to the problems of adolescent depression. It must

become a priority to targeted improvements in recognition and treatment. In comparison

in Beck’s Cognitive Theory, they also cite the factors that affect the depression among

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teenagers. On the contrary, Moffatt (2007) said that it is needed to give more attention to

the problems causing adolescent depression. On the other hand, Kring, et al. (2010) said

that keeping in mind the negative opinions that is heard from others, they let their selves

end up being depressed.

In related with McLean (2003) and Moffatt (2007) conclusions, Baji (2011) found

out that stressful events damage the quality of life, and it is aggravated by depression.

Stressful life events worsen the quality of life both directly and indirectly through

depressive symptoms. In comparison with the Learned Helplessness Theory, stressful

events are a big part of the teenager’s life of being depressed. On the contrary, Baji

(2011) stated that the quality of life have more negative effect than do stressful events.

On the other hand, Noelen-Hoeksema (2011) said that situations are controllable but

people lose motivation for them to control the situation.

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Chapter III

Methods of Research

A. Respondents and Sampling

This study will involve 100 psychology students in Bulacan State University.

These respondents where randomly selected from the 750 population of the psychology

students.

Specifically, this study will use the statistical technique, Simple Random

Sampling to choose the representative of the population of the study. Simple Random

Sampling is a limited number of the elements determined from the population. Before the

selection is done every element in the population is given equal chance of being selected

in the sample. The simplest way of drawing a random sample is by lottery of fishbowl

technique. And if the population is large lottery is cumbersome. A simple and practical

way is using the Table of Random Numbers (Mangaran & Garcia, 2010).

B. Research Design

In this study, a descriptive research method – the survey method and a

quantitative approach to research problem will be use. Williams (2007), states that

descriptive research method examines the situation, as it exists in its current state. It

involves identification of attributes of a particular phenomenon based on an observational

basis, or the exploration of correlation between two or more phenomena. Under the

descriptive research method is the survey method.

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Glasow (2005); Pinsonneault and Kraemer (1993) define a survey as a “means for

gathering information about the characteristics, actions, or opinions of a large group of

people”. Surveys can also be used to assess needs, evaluate demand, and examine impact

(Salant & Dillman, 1994).

Quantitative research approach uses an object‐related approach with the aim to

explain cause‐effect relationships by testing hypothesis and theories with empirical data

produced by measuring, counting, scaling. It is deductive with a linear, very much

standardized and structured process. The researcher stays neutral, detached and uses

random sampling to evade personal biases to contaminate the results which can easily be

generalized (Lamnek, 1995).

C. Research Instruments

In this study, the instruments that will use are the Beck’s Depression Inventory Test

and Cope Inventory. The Beck Depression Inventory Scale (BDI) has been used for

screening of depression among study population which has been tested and validated. The

questionnaire is self-administered and the results are relative and dependent on how the

subject answers each question. It is a 21-item measure and has been one of the most widely

used screening instruments for detecting symptoms of depression. It can be administered to

assess normal adults, adolescents, and individuals with psychiatric disorders − 13 years of

age or older (Kumar, Jain, & Hedge, 2012).

On the other hand, Cope Inventory is a test that will help the person to deal with their

emotions. The items have been used in at least 3 formats.  One is a "dispositional" or trait-

like version in which respondents’ report the extent to which they usually do the things

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listed, when they are stressed.  A second is a time-limited version in which respondents

indicate the degree to which they actually did have each response during a particular period

in the past.  The third is a time-limited version in which respondents indicate the degree to

which they have been having each response during a period up to the present. This test will

help the students to know more about their self and improve their personality (Carver,

Scheier, & Weintraub, 1989).

D. Research Procedure

To start the study, the researchers will give a letter of request to the Dean of

College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, to conduct a survey on factors causing

teenage depression and the coping mechanisms.

Upon the approval of request, the researchers will select the respondents. The

selection of respondents is randomly.

After identifying the respondents, the researchers will conduct the survey.

After the survey was conducted, the researchers will gather all the data.

When the data were all gathered, the researchers will tally the scores and will

analysize if what factors among teenagers cause them depression and how they

cope from it.

E. Statistical Tools

The following are the statistical tools that will use in this study.

Mann- Whitney U Test

Kruskall-Wallis Test

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SPSS

Chi-square Test

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