Page 209 - KNJIGA SAŽETAKA

INOVACIJE I IZAZOVI U OBRAZOVANJU I SESTRINSKOJ SKRBI - KNJIGA SAŽETAKA

Depression as a Risk Factor for School Success in

Adolescents

Depression is a state of continuous low mood and loss of energy that affects a person's thoughts,
behaviour, feelings, and physical condition. It is a disease with a thousand faces and ranks
among the most common disorders today. Although until recently depression was considered a
disorder that affects mature and elderly people, research has shown that this disorder is
increasingly appearing in children, adolescents, and younger people. Adolescence is a turbulent
period in which psychosocial maturity is achieved, identity is formed, and crises of earlier
developmental stages are resolved. If crises are not adequately resolved, due to the action of
hereditary or different psychological, emotional, and social factors, the development of
depression occurs. In adolescents, depression carries a high risk for the development of
delinquent behaviour, drug and alcohol abuse, school failure and suicide attempts. Diagnosing
depression in children and adolescents can be challenging due to the specificity of the clinical
picture compared to adults. Treatment of depression in children and adolescents aims to
eliminate symptoms and achieve complete remission, prevent recurrence, alleviate long-term
morbidity, and create conditions for normal growth and development. Since depression is a
multifactorial disease, which has numerous consequences on the further physical and
psychological health of adolescents, the emphasis is on prevention. Risk and protective factors
can be found in the school, family, and social environment.

In April 2024, a survey was conducted on a sample of 165 students of the School of Midwives.
The data was collected through a questionnaire created in Microsoft Forms. Participation in the
research was voluntary and anonymous.

The aim of the research was to find out the incidence of depressive symptoms in high school
age and the impact of depressive symptoms on school performance.

After the research, it was determined that more than half of the surveyed students feel some of
the physical or psychological symptoms of depression, and it can be concluded that there is an
interaction between mental health and school achievements.
Key words: depression, adolescence, school success

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