Variation in Adolescent Depression Rates: A Review of Findings Using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) Across School Contexts and Years
Author(s):
Robin Jacob, Anna Hart Erickson, Katja Robinson
Key Findings:
Overall, our findings were consistent with national reports that indicate high levels of adolescent depression. Across data sets and over time, at least 34% of students reported symptoms. Students in the rural district reported lower rates of symptoms of depression than in the urban district, but both reported higher rates after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to just before. Rates of depression vary considerably by student characteristics. Students who identify as girls or LGBTQ+ reported higher rates of depression than those who do not. Students who identify as multiracial had higher rates of depression than those who identify as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, or White. Finally, we observed discrepancies between the PHQ-2 and the PHQ-9’s ability to identify a consistent set of students with symptoms of depression. Both the short and longer versions may miss some students, which may be driven by differences in the depression symptoms included in each measure. If resources allow, the PHQ-9 may be a better measure of depression for adolescents, but the PHQ-2 produces mostly comparable results.
Rates of adolescent depression and anxiety have increased over the past two decades, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and related disruptions and school closures led to even higher levels of reports of mental health concerns.” Page 2