About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Girls Not Boys Depressed After Serious School Failure

by Rajashri on July 23, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Font : A-A+

Girls Not Boys Depressed After Serious School Failure

A new study has found that adolescent girls who are expelled, suspended or drop out of high school before they graduate are more likely to have a serious bout of depression by age 21 as compared to boys facing identical situations.

The study showed that girls who had early conduct problems in elementary school also were at an increased risk for depression in early adulthood.

Advertisement

However, it did not show any link for boys between academic, behaviour or social problems and depression at age 21.

"For girls there are broader implications of school failure. We already know that it leads to more poverty, higher rates of being on public assistance and lower rates of job stability. And now this study shows it is having mental health implications for girls," said Carolyn McCarty, a UW research associate professor of paediatrics and lead author of the study.
Advertisement

During the study, researchers found that girls who were expelled from school were more than twice as likely to suffer depression - 44 percent compared to 20 percent of girls who were not expelled.

They found that 33 percent of the girls who dropped out of school later became depressed compared to 19 percent who were not dropouts.

The study also showed that 28 percent of the girls who were suspended later suffered depression versus 19 percent of girls who weren't suspended.

Overall, 45 percent of the girls and 68 percent of the boys in the study experienced a major school failure, but McCarty said these rates were not surprising since the participants in the study came from high-crime neighbourhoods.

However, the depression rate was higher among girls, 22 percent versus 17 percent for the boys.

"This gender paradox shows that while school failure is more atypical for girls it appears to have more severe consequences when it does occur," McCarty said

"One reason may be that school failure stigmatizes girls more strongly or is harder for them to overcome. We do know that girls with conduct problems, such as school failure, tend to have long-term problems with cascading effects," McCarty added.

The study is published this week in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Source: ANI
RAS/L
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Education News

New Courses at State-run Healthcare Institutes Introduced
New medical courses related to nursing, and physiotherapy have been introduced in state-run healthcare and medical institutes in Delhi.
Using Disease-Modifying Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment
Patients with Alzheimer's disease can now be offered disease-modifying therapy using whole blood exchange as it has been proven effective in mice.
Patient Influencers Partnering with Companies for Drug Promotion
Claims by patient influencers may be an accurate reflection of their own experience with drugs, but it may not support that they will provide 'relief' quickly.
How To Keep Cool During A Heat Wave
Drink water throughout the day, even if you don't feel thirsty. Avoid drinks containing caffeine, sugar or alcohol, as these contribute to dehydration in hot weather
Health and Environmental Risks of Microplastics
Researchers are investigating the risks of microplastics, using lessons learned from nanotoxicology.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Girls Not Boys Depressed After Serious School Failure Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests