Social Science Question-Depression Among Adolescents

1 Social Science Question Name Institution Course Instructor Date 2 Social Science Question Depression Among Adolescents The chosen population for the assignment is adolescents, and the presenting problem is depression. The term adolescents refer to individuals, both male and female, aged between the ages of 10 and 19. Depression, on the other hand, is a common mental illness; especially among individuals in their mid and late adolescence (Beirão et al., 2020). Due to its dynamism and particularities, the disease requires a highly effective diagnosis to ensure that the most appropriate interventions are recommended. The manifestation of the disease among the adolescent population has been a major treatment challenge for most providers of primary care because of the diverse genetic and environmental factors associated with its development. It is also common for the mistaken diagnosis of the disease with other psychiatric disorders (Beirão et al., 2020). As a result, it is always necessary to roll out various diagnoses. Various environmental factors associated with the onset of the disease include stressful events and chronic adversity. However, the presentation of stressful events in one’s life is highly associated with the disorder’s onset rather than its recurrence. The risk of developing depression as a result of stressful events among adolescents is higher among girls compared to girls. The genetic explanation for depression among adolescents is tied to the variant 5-HTTLPR in the serotonin transporter genetic component. The high prevalence of girls among depression is also associated with the high concentrations of sex steroid receptors among the former compared to the latter (Beirão et al., 2020). The presentation of depression is associated with diverse signs and symptoms; all of which may vary from one individual to another depending on the extent and severity of their disease. Among the commonest symptoms of depression are depressed mood, insomnia or 3 hypersomnia, hopelessness, guilt, and a feeling of worthlessness (Nabunya et al., 2020). Depressed individuals are also associated with declining self-esteem and self-concept. They may also demonstrate varying levels of confusion and disorganization among other symptoms. Overall, the presentation of depression among adolescents is a dynamic concept whose understanding and treatment require an appropriate diagnosis before the proposal of any intervention. Literature Review A comprehensive review of the literature reveals that the onset or recurrence of depression among adolescents can be associated with numerous factors manifested along the lifetime of an individual. According to Beirão et al. (2020), there exists a strong link between the onset of depression and different environmental factors. Once individuals are exposed to different stressful occurrences such as accidents that cause personal injuries as well as chronic adversity in life, their chances of developing depressive symptoms. The author argues that stressful life events are likely to trigger the onset of depression rather than its recurrence. Beirão et al. (2020), further, state that girls are faced with a higher risk of developing depression compared to boys. Drawing from Beirão et al. (2020), the link between environmental factors and the onset of depression is tied to the fact that an individual's character develops along with their life. As a result of the body’s response to environmental stimuli, exposed individuals tend to develop increased high novelty levels as well as harm avoidance and low reward dependence. On the other hand, the onset or recurrence of depression among adolescents can be attributed to various biological factors (Beirão et al., 2020). Petito et al. (2020) argue that the biological causations of depression remain complex. However, among adolescents, the deficiency of certain neurotransmitters has been pointed out as a major contributor to its 4 occurrence. The commonest neurotransmitter associated with the onset or persistence of depression is serotonin. Petito et al. (2020), however, argue that the deficiency of other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine are also associated with the occurrence of the disorder among adolescents. It is imperative to highlight that there is no scholarly consensus on the causative element of the disorder such as the neurotransmitter shortage of other psychological and social factors. The explanation of depression among adolescents can, from a biological perspective, can be explained from the perspective of the noradrenaline effect. According to Bernaras et al. (2019), the chemical composition is a critical neurotransmitter whose roles are evident in regulating critical life activities and pr...

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