Predictors of depression among adolescents with disciplinary problems in Selangor, Malaysia

Depressive and disciplinary violation symptoms are commonly found among adolescents. This study aimed to determine predictors of depression among adolescents with disciplinary problems in Selangor. The predictors are parental solicitation, parental control, parent-child relationship and adolescent disclosure. A total of 354 secondary school students with disciplinary problems from Sabak Bernam, Petaling and Kuala Langat participated in the present study. Parental Solicitation Questionnaire, Parental Control Questionnaire, Family Attachment and Family Bonding Scale, Adolescent Disclosure Questionnaire and Children Depression Inventory (CDI) were used to measure the key variables in the study. The results of present study indicated that there were significant positive relationships between parental solicitation, parental control and parent-child relationship with adolescent disclosure among adolescents with disciplinary problems. There were also significant negative relationships found for parental control, parent-child relationship and adolescent disclosure with depression among adolescents with disciplinary problems. Disclosure to father was found to be the strongest unique predictor of adolescent depression. The mediation effect of adolescent disclosure was found to be significant in the relationship between paternal control and adolescent depression as well as the relationship between parent-child relationship and adolescent depression. The present study found that 37% of adolescents with disciplinary problems experienced moderate to high levels of depression. Hence, there is the need to address the emotional development of adolescents with disciplinary problems in Malaysia. The study concludes that depression in adolescents was associated with the interaction between parents and adolescents. In addition, parental behaviours may indirectly be influenced by the adolescent’s disclosure to parents. The findings also imply that efforts to alleviate depression among adolescents with disciplinary problems should also focus on parental behaviours or adolescent’s willingness in disclosing themselves to parents.

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