Screening and predicting adolescent depressive symptoms in rural settings

Adolescent depression with related suicidal behavior is a serious health pr oblem. This article describes depressive symptoms, reported life events, an d demographic risk factors in 846 rural adolescents. The results indicate t hat self-reported depressive symptoms in rural adolescents is significantly (p < .05) related to gender, death in the family, and the perceived positi ve and negative impact of life events, as well as the specific events of lo sing a close friend, an increase in number of arguments with parents, troub le with classmates, and trouble with police. The type of school program and trouble with siblings was marginally significant (p < .10). These demograp hic factors and life events may assist health-care professionals in identif ying adolescents at risk for depressive symptoms. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B . Saunders Company.