Overview:
The authors studied many factors affecting the mental wellbeing of New Zealand secondary school students, particularly a focus was on depressive symptoms. Depression was measured using the Reynolds Adolescent Scale (RADS-SF), with a score ≥28 resulting in students expressing depressive symptoms.
Aims and research methods:
The aims of this research are to identify and describe key changes to the mental health of students from 2007 to 2012. By way of example, the researchers focused on current mental health trends and cross-referenced the results to previous years, thus, providing a guideline for future directions of mental illnesses. The authors used the Youth2000 surveys in 2007 (n=9107) and 2012 (n=8500) to New Zealand secondary …show more content…
In addition, their purpose of this article was to provide New Zealand with solid evidence of the effect mental health has on wellbeing. The study included various research methods depending on the age of the participant. The participants were assessed at ages; 4 moths, 1 year, annually until the age of 16, then 18, and 21. Many types of methods were used in the longitudinal study, for example, teacher interviews, parent interviews, police record, child interviews and hospital …show more content…
A large proportion of the participants were lost due to outmigration, mortality, refusal to participate and loss of contact. However, the number of remaining participants (n=1011) was still substantial.
Conclusions:
The study concluded that participants who experienced early onset of depression (e.g. in childhood) were later at risk of subsequent depression and educational problems. The study further linked risk factors, for instance; loss of social capital, family connectedness and so forth to depression that manifests into a loss of future opportunities. Nevertheless, the main theme in this article is the continuity of depression through a person’s life when the early onset of depression exists.
Reflection:
Reflection regarding how this research could inform a future project. (Things that should be taken into account.
The authors state that this research has since been used in addressing issues relating to social factors affecting mental health. Longitudinal studies are essential in gathering extended data which can greatly influence the pathway of future studies. This article highlights the importance to provide better support systems/ interventions to those with early onset of depression in order to reduce subsequent
The authors studied many factors affecting the mental wellbeing of New Zealand secondary school students, particularly a focus was on depressive symptoms. Depression was measured using the Reynolds Adolescent Scale (RADS-SF), with a score ≥28 resulting in students expressing depressive symptoms.
Aims and research methods:
The aims of this research are to identify and describe key changes to the mental health of students from 2007 to 2012. By way of example, the researchers focused on current mental health trends and cross-referenced the results to previous years, thus, providing a guideline for future directions of mental illnesses. The authors used the Youth2000 surveys in 2007 (n=9107) and 2012 (n=8500) to New Zealand secondary …show more content…
In addition, their purpose of this article was to provide New Zealand with solid evidence of the effect mental health has on wellbeing. The study included various research methods depending on the age of the participant. The participants were assessed at ages; 4 moths, 1 year, annually until the age of 16, then 18, and 21. Many types of methods were used in the longitudinal study, for example, teacher interviews, parent interviews, police record, child interviews and hospital …show more content…
A large proportion of the participants were lost due to outmigration, mortality, refusal to participate and loss of contact. However, the number of remaining participants (n=1011) was still substantial.
Conclusions:
The study concluded that participants who experienced early onset of depression (e.g. in childhood) were later at risk of subsequent depression and educational problems. The study further linked risk factors, for instance; loss of social capital, family connectedness and so forth to depression that manifests into a loss of future opportunities. Nevertheless, the main theme in this article is the continuity of depression through a person’s life when the early onset of depression exists.
Reflection:
Reflection regarding how this research could inform a future project. (Things that should be taken into account.
The authors state that this research has since been used in addressing issues relating to social factors affecting mental health. Longitudinal studies are essential in gathering extended data which can greatly influence the pathway of future studies. This article highlights the importance to provide better support systems/ interventions to those with early onset of depression in order to reduce subsequent