ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the prevalence of depressive symptom and effect of family support on depressive symptom among high school students in Jeju Island, Korea. METHODS: The study subjects were 711 high school students consisting of 403 males and 308 females of three high schools in urban Jeju Island and the data was gathered using self-reporting questionnaires consisting of BDI, sociodemographic factors, health behavior and family support, etc. RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive symptom in high school students in Jeju Island is 17.7% in total, 17.1% in male, 18.5% in female. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the family support had significantly effect on depression after controlling other confounding variables including age, sex, socioeconomic state, parent's marital statue, body image satisfaction, academic achievement, time spend with parents to build a relationship, and mother's education year. CONCLUSION: Family support was found to be a significant correlate of depressive symptom high school students in Jeju Island. Variety of supports to enhance family cohesion and family relation including sociocultural and political policies and program would be needed to reduce the risk of having depressive symptom and suicide ideation among high school students in Jeju Island.