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Original scientific paper

DEPRESSION AND AUTO-AGGRESSIVENESS IN ADOLESCENTS IN ZAGREB

Mara Tripković ; Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Youth, Zagreb, Croatia
Iris Sarajlić Vuković ; Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Tanja Frančišković ; Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Sandra Vuk Pisk ; Psychiatric Hospital “Sv. Ivan“, Zagreb, Croatia
Silvana Krnić


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Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to explore the frequency of depression among the general population of adolescents who
were high school students in the city of Zagreb. As depression is associated with increased suicidal risk we wanted to check to what
extent depression, as an emotional problem among youth, is associated with auto-aggression in the general population of
adolescents.
Subjects and methods: The study was conducted on a sample of high school students in Zagreb and it included 701 students of
both genders aged from 14-19 years of age. To test the depression a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was administered for youth
between 11-18 years of age (Youth Self Report for ages 11-18). To test auto-aggression a Scale of Auto-destructiveness (SAD) was
used.
Results: Results obtained by this study show that about 20.7% of high school students have mild and borderline depressive
disorders while moderate or severe depression shows about 5% of them, whereby depression is statistically significant among girls
who, on average, report more symptoms of depression. It has also been proven a significant impact of depression levels (F
(2,423)=35.860, p<0.001) on auto-aggression in subjects of both genders. In both genders, moderately depressed show more auto
destructiveness than those without depression symptoms (p<0.01). In the group of heavily depressed (n=30), significantly higher
self-destructiveness is shown by girls (p<0.01).
Conclusions: The data suggest the importance of early recognition, understanding and treatment of depressive symptoms in
adolescents in order to reduce the risk of subsequent chronic psychosocial damage.

Keywords

depression; adolescents; auto-aggressiveness; urban populations

Hrčak ID:

265274

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/265274

Publication date:

23.12.2014.

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