DEPRESSION AMONG CHINESE CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to explore, identify, and discuss the predisposing factors and associated outcomes of depression in Chinese children and adolescents. For inclusion in the review, studies had to meet our objectives, be original peer-reviewed articles, conducted among Chinese children and adolescents in China. Articles were sourced through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Wan Fang Data, PsycINFO, and DOAJ databases. The results of the review indicate that the prevalence of depression symptoms in Chinese children and adolescents is high. The following factors are related to depression in Chinese children and adolescents: family, social factors, peer relations, gender, age, obesity, body image, and ethnicity. The outcomes of depression are poor academic performance, psychosocial retardation, conduct problems, cognitive distortion, and suicide. Depression is a major mental health problem among Chinese children and adolescents. This points to the need for longitudinally designed and controlled studies to establish effective preventive strategies.

Keywords

• depression
• Chinese
• children
• factors
• outcomes