Correlates of Adolescent Depression in Orphanage Homes in Yenagoa City, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

@#This study was designed to investigate the correlates of adolescent depression in orphanage homes using Yenagoa, Bayelsa State as a case study in Nigeria. Adopting the attachment theory as a theoretical framework, this study adopted the respondent-driven sampling technique to study 120 adolescents in three orphanage homes in Yenagoa city. Data for this study was collected through the use of the questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean age of the respondents was 13.7±3.4 years. The results indicated that more than a quarter of the respondents have manifested depression symptoms (45.8%). Most of the respondents had manifested at least one symptom of depression. Socio-demographic variables of the respondents such as, orphan type (β = - 1.795; t = -8.377; p<0.05), duration of stay at orphanage home (β =-0.082; t = -3.458; p<0.05), age (β = 0.253; t = 5.532; p<0.05), ethnic group (β =0.653; t = 3.532; p<0.05), level of education (β = 0.583; t = 2.248; p<0.05), mode of getting to orphanage home (β = 0.971; t = 4.711; p<0.05) and availability of relative(s) (β = 2.430; t = 6.549; p<0.05) significantly predicted adolescent depression. In conclusion, there is a high prevalence rate of depression among adolescents living in orphanage homes in the city. Thus, there is a need to increase the level of social support for adolescents living in orphanage homes to ameliorate their conditions of depression.