Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T01:12:34.534Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Teaching Coping Skills to Depressed Adolescents in High School Settings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2014

Alan Ralph  and
Linda Nicholson
Alan Ralph*
Affiliation:
Murdoch University
Linda Nicholson
Affiliation:
Murdoch University
*
Department of Psychology and Sociology, James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4811, Australia
Get access

Abstract

The prevalence of depressive symptoms in Year 10 students in two metropolitan high schools, and the implication of a short-term, school-based group intervention to assist students in coping with depression are described. A total of 260 students were screened using a multistage, multimethod procedure that resulted in 16% and 20% of students in each school meeting criteria for depression. Nine students identified as depressed from one school formed an initial treatment group and a matched wait-list control group was formed from students in the second school. Dependent measures included self-report measures of depression and self-concept, teacher ratings of classroom participation and demeanour, and school records of academic performance and absenteeism. Clinical improvements that maintained were noted for just over half of those in the initial treatment group, whereas no such changes occurred in the control group. Differences at follow-up were statistically significant, although not immediately posttreatment. Some improvements were also recorded for participation and demeanour in class. A subsequent, less intensive intervention with 12 students with more severe depressive symptoms from the second school was less effective. The results are discussed in relation to variations in delivery of the intervention program, and the severity and nature of problems experienced by the students who participated in each intervention.

Type
Research Article
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 12 , Issue 4 , December 1995 , pp. 175 - 190
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Allgood-Merten, B., Lewinsohn, P.M., & Hops, H. (1990). Sex difference and adolescent depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 99, 55–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ambrosini, P.J., Metz, C., Bianchi, M.D., Rabinovich, H., & Undie, A. (1991). Concurrent validity and psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory in outpatient adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 51–57.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
American Psychiatric Association. (1987). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., rev.). Washington, DC: Author.Google Scholar
Angold, A. (1988a). Childhood and adolescent depression: I. Epidemiological and aetiological aspects. British Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 601–617.Google Scholar
Angold, A. (1988b). Childhood and adolescent depression: II. Research in clinical populations. British Journal of Psychiatry, 153, 476–492.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Beck, A.T., Ward, C.H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 561–571.Google Scholar
Butler, L., Miezitis, S., Friedman, R., & Cole, E. (1980). The effect of two school-based intervention programs on depressive symptoms in pre-adolescents. American Educational Research Journal, 17, 111–119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, G.N. (1985). A psychoeducational approach to the treatment of depressed adolescents. Unpublished doctoral thesis, University of Oregon.Google Scholar
Clarke, G.N., & Lewinsohn, P.M. (1986). Leader manual for the Adolescent Coping with Depression Course. Unpublished manuscript, Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR.Google Scholar
Clarke, G., Lewinsohn, P., & Hops, H. (1990). Leader's manual for adolescent groups: Adolescent Coping with Depression Course. Eugene, OR: Castalia.Google Scholar
Collins, L.C., Kafer, N.F., & O'Shea, J.D. (1985). The Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale: An Australian study. Australian Psychologist, 20, 177–193.Google Scholar
Fleming, J.E., Offord, D.R., & Boyle, M.H. (1989). Prevalence of childhood and adolescent depression in the community. British Journal of Psychiatry, 155, 647–654.Google Scholar
Garber, J., Kriss, R.M., Koch, M., & Lindholm, L. (1988). Recurrent depression in adolescents: A follow-up study. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 27, 49–54.Google Scholar
Hains, A.A., & Szyjakowski, M. (1990). A cognitive stress-reduction intervention program for adolescents. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 37, 79–84.Google Scholar
Harrington, R., Fudge, H., Rutter, M., Pickles, A., & Hill, J. (1990). Adult outcomes of childhood and adolescent depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 47, 465–473.Google Scholar
Kahn, J.S., Kehle, T.J., Jenson, W.R., & Clark, E. (1990). Comparison of cognitive-behavioral, relaxation, and self-modelling interventions for depression among middle-school students. School Psychology Review, 19, 196–211.Google Scholar
Karnes, F.A., & Wherry, J.N. (1982). Self-concepts of gifted students as measured by the Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale. Psychological Reports, 49, 903–906.Google Scholar
Kashani, J.H., Sherman, D.D., Parker, D.R., & Reid, J.C. (1990). Utility of the Beck Depression Inventory with clinic referred adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29, 278–282.Google Scholar
Kauth, M.R., & Zettle, R.D. (1990). Validation of depression measures in adolescent populations. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 46, 291–295.Google Scholar
Kazdin, A.E. (1990). Childhood depression. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 31, 121–160.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kendall, P.C., Cantwell, D.P., & Kazdin, A.E. (1989). Depression in children and adolescents: Assessment issues and recommendations. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 13, 109–146.Google Scholar
Ketcham, B., & Snyder, R.T. (1977). Self-attitudes of the intellectually and socially advantaged students: Normative study of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale. Psychological Reports, 40, 111–116.Google Scholar
Kovacs, M. (1985). The Children's Depression Inventory: A self-rated depression scale for school-aged youngsters. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.Google Scholar
Kovacs, M., & Goldston, D. (1991). Cognitive and social cognitive development of depressed children and adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 388–392.Google Scholar
Lewinsohn, P.M., Clarke, G.N., Hops, H., & Andrews, J. (1990). Cognitive-behavioral treatment for depressed adolescents. Behavior Therapy, 21, 385–401.Google Scholar
Lewinsohn, P.M., Hops, H., Roberts, R., Seeley, J., & Andrews, J.A. (1993). Adolescent psychopathology: I. Prevalence and incidence of depression and other DSM-III-R disorders in high school students. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 102, 133–144.Google Scholar
Patton, W. (1991). The relationship between self-image and depression in adolescents. Psychological Reports, 68, 867–870.Google Scholar
Petti, T.A. (1978). Depression in hospitalised child psychiatric patients: Approaches to measuring depression. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 17, 49–59.Google Scholar
Piers, E.V. (1977). Children's self-esteem, level of esteem certainty, and responsibility for success and failure. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 130, 295–304.Google Scholar
Piers, E.V. (1984). The Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale – Revised. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.Google Scholar
Piers, E.V., & Harris, D.B. (1969). The Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale. Los Angeles: Western Psychology Services.Google Scholar
Ponterotto, J.G., Pace, T.M., & Kavan, M.G. (1989). Testing the test: A counsellor's guide to the assessment of depression. Journal of Counselling and Development, 67, 301–309.Google Scholar
Radloff, L.S. (1977). A CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401.Google Scholar
Ralph, A., Merralls, L., Hart, L., Porter, J.S., & Tan Su-Neo, A. (1995). Peer interaction networks, self-concept, locus of control, and avoidance of social situations of early adolescents. Australian Journal of Psychology, 47, 110–118.Google Scholar
Ralph, A., Williams, C. & Campisi, A. (1995). Further data on peer interactions, self-concept, locus of control, and avoidance of social situations of pre-adolescent children. Manuscript submitted for publication.Google Scholar
Reynolds, W.M. (1986) A model for screening and identification of depressed children and adolescents in school settings. Professional School Psychology, 1, 117–129.Google Scholar
Reynolds, W.M. (1987). Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale. Florida: Psychological Assessment Resources.Google Scholar
Reynolds, W.M. (1990). Depression in children and adolescents: Nature, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. School Psychology Review, 19, 158–173.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reynolds, W.M., & Coats, K.I. (1986). A comparison of cognitive-behavioral therapy and relaxation training for the treatment of depression in adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 653–660.Google Scholar
Reynolds, W.M., & Graves, A. (1989). Reliability of children's reports of depressive symptomatology, Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 17, 647–655.Google Scholar
Rich, C.E., Barcikowski, R.S., & Witmer, J.M. (1979). The factorial validity of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale or a sample of intermediate level, EMR students enrolled in elementary school. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 39, 485–490.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberts, R.E., Lewinsohn, P.M., & Seeley, B.S. (1991). Screening for adolescent depression: A comparison of depression scales. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 58–66.Google Scholar
Robin, A. L. (1989). Issues Checklist. New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
Rutter, M. (1986). The developmental psychopathology of depression: Issues and perspectives. In Rutter, M., Izard, C., & Read, P. (Eds.), Depression in young people: Developmental and clinical perspectives (pp. 339–434). New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
Ryan, N.D., Puig-Antich, J., Cooper, T., Rabinovich, H., Ambrosini, P., Davies, M., King, J., Torrer, D., & Fried, J. (1986). Imipramine in adolescent major depression: Plasma level and clinical response. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 73, 275–288.Google Scholar
Shain, B.N., Naylor, N., & Alessi, N. (1990). Comparison of self-rated and clinical-rated measures of depression in adolescents. American Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 793–795.Google Scholar
Smith, M.D., Zingale, S.A., & Coleman, J.M. (1978). The influence of adults expectancy / child performance discrepancies upon children's self-concepts. American Education Research Journal, 15, 259–265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spitzer, R.L., Endicott, J., & Robins, E. (1978). Research diagnostic criteria: Rationale and reliability. Archives of General Psychiatry, 35, 773–782.Google Scholar
Stark, K.D., Reynolds, W.M., & Kaslow, N. (1987). A comparison of the relative efficacy of self-control therapy and a behavioral problem-solving therapy for depression in children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 15, 91–113.Google Scholar
Teri, L. (1982). The use of the Beck Depression Inventory with adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 10, 277–284.Google Scholar
Wolf, T.M., Sklov, M.C., Hunter, S.M., Webber, L.S., & Berenson, G.S. (1982). Factor analytic study of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 46, 511–513.Google Scholar