The role of perceived parental attitudes and self-esteem in predicting secondary school students’ depression

Abstract

Aim is to determine the extent to which self-esteem and parental attitude perceptions of adolescents predict depression. This is a quantitative research design and the relational screening model was conducted throughout the study. ‘Depression Scale’, ‘Parental Attitude Scale’ and ‘Self-Esteem Scale’ were utilised in the study. The study was conducted on a total of 526 students of whom 276 were female and 249 were male studying in nine different secondary schools in Istanbul during the 2012–2013 academic period. Product-moment correlation coefficient and Stepwise regression analysis were utilised in analysing the data. According to the Product-moment correlation coefficient analysis, a negative significant relationship was detected between depression and democratic attitude sub-dimension of parental attitudes; and a positive significant relationship was detected between depression and authoritarian attitude and protective or willing attitude. Also, a negative significant relationship was detected between depression and self-esteem. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that democratic attitude and self-esteem variables were significant in explaining depression.

Keywords: Depression, perceived parental attitudes, self-esteem, adolescence