Donald Maria, Dower Jo
Centre for Primary Health Care, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Wolloongabba.
Aust N Z J Public Health. 2002 Dec;26(6):555-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-842x.2002.tb00366.x.
The study explores the risk and protective factors for current depressive symptomatology in a large community sample of 15-to-24-year-olds.
The study was designed as a cross-sectional household survey, which used telephone recruitment followed by an anonymous self-report postal questionnaire. The final sample included 3,082 adolescents and young adults from Queensland, Australia.
The vast majority of measured risk and protective factors were associated with current depressive symptomatology. Key risk factors included high levels of neuroticism, perceived problems with parents, sexual abuse, relationship break-ups, educational failure and sexual identity conflict. A different profile of protective factors was evident for each of these high-risk groups. Of particular note was the importance of well-developed intrapersonal skills as protective for both males and females. The significance of social connectedness as a protective factor for the males overall and across a range of high-risk groups was a central finding.
The implications of these findings in relation to a range of mental health promotion and mental illness prevention and early intervention initiatives are discussed. Supported initiatives include parenting programs that consider the realities of modem families, increasing community awareness of the impact on young people of the breakdown of their intimate relationships, initiatives in educational settings and workplaces to increase tolerance of gay/lesbian and bisexual lifestyles and the enhancement of social connectedness.
本研究在一个由15至24岁人群组成的大型社区样本中，探究当前抑郁症状的风险因素和保护因素。
本研究设计为一项横断面家庭调查，采用电话招募，随后进行匿名自填式邮政问卷调查。最终样本包括来自澳大利亚昆士兰州的3082名青少年和青年。
绝大多数测量出的风险因素和保护因素都与当前的抑郁症状有关。关键风险因素包括高度神经质、与父母之间的感知问题、性虐待、关系破裂、学业失败以及性身份冲突。对于这些高危群体中的每一个，保护因素的情况都有所不同。特别值得注意的是，良好发展的个人内技能对男性和女性都具有保护作用。社会联系作为男性总体以及一系列高危群体的保护因素，其重要性是一项核心发现。
讨论了这些发现对于一系列心理健康促进、精神疾病预防和早期干预举措的启示。得到支持的举措包括考虑现代家庭实际情况的育儿项目、提高社区对亲密关系破裂对年轻人影响的认识、在教育环境和工作场所开展提高对同性恋、双性恋生活方式容忍度的举措以及增强社会联系。
