Life Events, Depression, and Perceived Problem Solving Alternatives in Adolescents

Abstract

The association between negative life events and depression may be mediated by adolescents' sense of competency in solving problems. This study investigated (a) the relationship between troublesome life events and level of depression and (b) the association between level of depression and adolescents' perceived problem solving alternatives, in 135 tenth graders. The specific life events of "unemployment of a family member", "starting at a new school", and "breaking up with a boy/girlfriend", were associated with higher levels of depression. In addition, higher levels of depression were associated most consistently with the perceived alternatives of getting intoxicated and of isolating oneself in response to a variety of problems. Further research is needed to clarify both the extent to which depression influences adolescents' responses to negative life events and leads to poorer problem solving choices, and the degree to which negative life events and the lack of constructive problem solving alternatives increase the risk of depression.