Depressive symptoms in adolescents living in rural America.
OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this pilot study were to examine prevalence of depressive symptoms among rural adolescents and identify related social and environmental variables.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 299 14- to 18-year-old agriculture class students at 5 rural high schools in Kentucky and Iowa completed a survey that included demographic information, family farm history, experience with suicide, perception of school environment, and indicators of farm injuries and risky behaviors. Participants also completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) as well as scales to assess the number of major life events in the last year, active coping use, and family closeness.


RESULTS
The prevalence of a high level of depressive symptoms (CES-D > or = 16) in this sample was 34%. Nine percent had seriously considered suicide in the last year. Unlike previous reports, boys reported as many depressive symptoms as girls. Although the literature reports that engaging in risky behavior is associated with depressive symptoms, the only risky behavior linked with depressive symptoms in this sample was operating a 4-wheel all-terrain vehicle. Other predictors of depressive symptoms included poor family relationships and poor active coping.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions to identify and prevent depressive symptoms in rural adolescents are needed. Boosting active coping and improving family function may also prevent the development of clinical depression in rural adolescents.
Peden
Ann R
AR
College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, 760 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40536-0232, USA. arpede01@uky.edu
Reed
Deborah B
DB
Rayens
Mary Kay
MK
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index