Depression and anxiety among multiethnic middle school students: Age, gender, and sociocultural environment

Abstract

Background: Depression and anxiety-related disorders are common among adolescents. Research attention to early adolescence and low-income ethnically diverse populations is limited. Aim: To conduct screening for depression and anxiety at an early age with attention to gender and socioenvironmental context within a low-income setting. Method: Mixed methods included the PHQ-9A and GAD-10 screening instruments and ethnographic interviews. Results: 75 ethnically diverse middle school students were included. Mean years age was 11.2 (0.74). Females had higher PHQ-9A sum scores than males (p =.002, Mann-Whitney test) and higher GAD-10 sum scores than males (p =.016, Mann-Whitney test). After controlling for multiple comparisons, girls had higher mean responses on three PHQ-9A items (p