Graduate Program

School Psychology

Degree Name

Specialist in School Psychology

Semester of Degree Completion

2010

Thesis Director

Assege HaileMariam

Thesis Committee Member

Ronan Bernas

Thesis Committee Member

Linda Leal

Abstract

The present study examined multiple predictors of depression simultaneously in order to determine which variables best predict self-reported depressed mood in adolescents. Although the current literature has identified several individual variables and their relationship to depression in adolescents, few studies have investigated multiple variables at the same time in relation to depression. Participants included 4,693 high school students from a Midwestern state. Of these students, 4 7% were girls, 4 7% were boys, and 6% did not indicate their gender. These students attended various high schools across seven counties and were recruited for a health prevention program called I Sing the Body Electric. As part of the program, students completed a confidential survey that evaluated a number of health related issues, including depressed mood and other variables that have been found to be predictors of depression. The current study used some of the data from this data base. Logistic regression analyses using a forward selection procedure indicated that the top four predictors of self-reported depressed mood in adolescents are dating violence, cyberbullying, eating disorder symptoms, and school belonging. These findings are inconsistent with existing literature and have implications for prevention and intervention programs, as well as future research directions, which are discussed in detail.

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