title: Depressive symptoms among children and adolescents in western china: An epidemiological survey of prevalence and correlates.
abstract: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in a school-based sample of 7-17-year-old children and adolescents in west-central China. A large cross-sectional sample survey of 10657 children and adolescents was conducted in Chongqing, a municipality in west-central China. Data were collected from the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC) and social-demographic variables which were evaluated with a structured scale. The total prevalence of depression risk was 23.9%. The risk factors for depressive symptoms included age older than 12 years, grade lower than 10, having unmarried parents, being taken care of by people other than two parents (single parent, grandparent(s), other relatives, or others), and living in a low-income family. The pressures of health and adaptation, interpersonal relationship, and study were also strong predictors of depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among children and adolescents in Chongqing of China is relatively high compared with most figures reported in other cities. There is an urgent need to develop efficacious interventions aimed at the prevention and early recognition of childhood and adolescent depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Medicine, School of psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Lifei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Medicine, School of psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China. Electronic address: fzz@tmmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhengzhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology of Army man, School of psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Guoyu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, Chongqing 400020, China.
authors.forename: Yaling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, College of Basic Medical Science, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Kaifa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Psychology, School of Nursing, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology of Army man, School of psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Mengxue
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Applied Psychology Lab, School of Education, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China.
authors.forename: Chaobing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Medicine, School of psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Medicine, School of psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Keyu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Medicine, School of psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guang
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Medicine, School of psychology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Adolescents; Children; Depression; Prevalence; Western China