A Comparison of Patterns of Depression between Middle and High School Students

Purpose: To compare patterns and rates of depression between high school and middle school students. Background: The rates of depression among 14 to 18 year olds are 10 to 20%, with depression twice as common in girls. Depression impacts adolescent life strongly, influencing emotional development, school performance, and relationships. Depression studies have been focused on high school rather than middle school students. Methods: Core items from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (66 items) were administered concurrently with a validated measure for depression to middle school (n=735) and high school students (n=416) in one urban-suburban Midwestern community. Chi-square analyses examined associations of depression with demographics, risk and protective factors. Results: Middle school students were substantially more likely to report 0 to 1 depressive criteria (71%) than high school students (55.6%). Female gender was associated with depression in high school but not middle school students, while depression was higher among African American middle school students than high school students. Depression occurred more among only middle school students in single parent homes and when the father experienced unemployment. A sibling in the home resulted in lower rates of depression in middle school students only. There were meaningful differences between middle and high school students in the relationship of depression to current and lifetime tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use; violence; peer substance use; and protective factors. Conclusions: Substantial differences were noted in rates and patterns of depression between middle and high school students. More investigation into middle school mental health is warranted.