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 persons 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). 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 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 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 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 persons life (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2004). 4. Coping Mechanisms Involves managing taxing circumstances, expending effort to solve lifes 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 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).

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 Freuds 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.

In connection with the Psychoanalytic Theory, Becks 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. Becks 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 Becks 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).

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 Freuds 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 Freuds theory, a person that is dependent on other people, later in life, blame his self when he lose his dependant.

In connection with McLeans (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 Becks Cognitive Theory, they also cite the factors that affect the depression among

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 teenagers 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 objectrelated approach with the aim to explain causeeffect 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 Becks 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 traitlike 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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Bibliography

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http://www.indianjpsychiatry.org/article.asp?issn=00195545;year=2012;volume=54;issue=3;spage=223;epage=226;aulast=Kumar Lamnek, S. (1995). Qualitative Research - Volume 1: Methodology. Weinheim: Belz. [In Particular Chapter 4.8: Methodological implications in quantitative and qualitative Social Research, pp. 218-244.] Retrieved from http://www.tim.ethz.ch/education/courses/courses_fs_2011/course_docsem_fs_2011/S10_Qualit ative_Quantitative_Fischl_Breitenmoser_Fuellemann Mangaran, A. J., & Garcia, C. M. (2010). Elementary Statistics. City of Malolos, Bulacan: Bulacan State University McLean, S. C. (2003). Factors Which Could Influence the Development of Adolescent Depression. Retrieved from http://uir.unisa.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10500/1611/Thesis.pdf?sequence=1 Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2004). United States of America: Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Moffatt, I. (2007, May). Irish Adolescents and Depression: A Study of Mental Health Literacy and Help-Seeking. Retrieved from http://lenus.ie/hse/bitstream/10147/46038/1/10222.pdf Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2011). Abnormal Psychology 5th Edition, p.194. New York: McGrawHill Companies, Inc. Pinsonneault, A., & Kraemer, K. L. (1993). Survey research methodology in management information systems: An assessment. Journal of Management Information Systems, 10, 75-105. Purse, M. (2007, July). Talk Therapy. Retrieved from http://bipolar.about.com/od/glossaryt/g/talk_therapy.htm

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Rogge, T., & Zieve, D. (2012). Adolescent Depression: Causes and Treatments. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001518.htm Salant, P., & Dillman, D. A. (1994). How to conduct your own survey. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Salters-Pedneault, K. (2010, March). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Retrieved from http://bpd.about.com/od/treatments/a/CBT.htm Santrock, J.W. (2008). Adolescence 12th Edition, p. 470. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Schimelpfening, N. (2011, October). Interpersonal Therapy. Retrieved from http://depression.about.com/od/psychotherapy/a/interpersonal.htm Teen Depression Statistics. (2010, November). Retrieved from http://www.teendepression.org/stats/teenage-depression-statistics/ & http://www.teendepression.org/c/stats/page/3/ Williams, C. (2007, March). Research Methods. Journal of Business & Economic Research, Vol. 5, No. 3. Retrieved from http://journals.cluteonline.com/index.php/JBER/article/viewFile/2532/2578

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