Examining Depression Prevalence Among Adolescents in London

The research question is required to be framed in such a way so that it clarifies the problem to be focussed in the study along with the particular population and outcomes. In framing the research question in this study, the PEO framework tool is to be used. This is because it allows the researcher to analyse likelihood or prognosis of clinical problem which has occurred due to presence of existing condition (Verhoeven et al. 2019). Thus, using this tool in the study, the focus can be created on identifying the prevalence or likelihood of depression among the children of 13-17 years in London due to any pre-existing condition. The PEO framework stands for population, exposure and outcome. The population is referred to people or patients and family members to be focussed in the study which are to be influenced by the identified problem in the research (Doody and Bailey, 2016). The exposure refers to the illness or problematic condition that is to be focussed in the study. The outcome is referred as the interest of the research to be accessed through the execution of the study (Dillane and Doody, 2019). Thus, based on the characteristics the formulated research question is: How prevalent is depression between boys and girls aged 13-17 years in London?

Introduction

Depression is referred to the mood disorder which is able to impact an individual’s daily performance in life and it is regarded as one of the common mental health problem suffered by people in the UK. This is evident as nearly 1 in 6 people in the UK are mentioned to experience common mental health issue such as depression, stress, anxiety and others in a single week (mentalhealth.org.uk, 2018). Moreover, it is mentioned that in England, UK nearly 4-10% of people are probable to suffer from depression in their lifetime (digital.nhs.uk, 2018). The depression rate is seen to higher among the youth and the adolescent that is evident from the statistics where children as young as 12 years to adults of 25 years are found to be more vulnerable to face depression as one of the major mental health problems in lifetime (mentalhealth.org.uk, 2018). The condition indicated that prevalence of depression among the children and adults in England, UK is high and effective examination is to be made to understand its extent of influence and prevalence on the population. Thus, the study is developed where aim of the study along with the objectives are to be clarified in relation to adolescent depression in London which is the largest city and capital of England. Moreover, the methodology and the way ethics will be managed are to be discussed. Further, a reflection through critical analysis of the experience in executing the study is to be mentioned.

Background of the study

Adolescent depression is the mood disorder experienced by the children below 18 years and it is not in any other way different from adult depression. However, the symptoms of the depression may be manifested in adolescent in different ways that are apart from adults because of the different developmental as well as social challenges faced by the teenagers (Dardas et al. 2018). The emotional symptoms of adolescent depression include feeling of worthlessness and guilt, trouble concentrating on making decisions, irritability, lack of interest, extreme sensitivity and others. The persistent adolescent depression is seen to lead children in developing suicidal thoughts and cause self-harm (Dardas et al. 2017). The behavioural changes seen among adolescent due to depression include hindrance in remembering information, restlessness, insomnia, loss of appetite, social isolation, substance abuse, tiredness and others. The exact diagnosis of adolescent depression is difficult as it is hard to analyse difference between normal and improper reactions of the teenagers (Asad et al. 2017).

In the study of Henje Blom et al. (2016), it is mentioned that feeling of psychological stress stimulates the hypothalamus region of the brain to produce corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). The hormone persuades release of pituitary corticotrophin that stimulates the release of cortisol from the adrenal gland into the plasma. The prolonged psychological stress leads to raise the cortisol level in the blood which is the stress hormone involving reduction of neurotransmitters and serotonin that is the “happy hormone” at the same time making individuals to suffer depression (Gomes et al. 2019). This is because increased cortisol leads to create fluctuations in the mood making people feel depressed and anxious. In case of adolescent, various social and environmental factors act as psychological stressors that are seen to influence the cortisol levels in the blood making the individuals feel depressed (Chuang et al. 2016). The early childhood trauma of being abused and harmed in society contributes towards adolescent depression. This is because the incident leads adolescent individuals to feel disconnected from the society, experience shame and guilt and show inability to emotionally connect with others to overcome their psychological stress that gradually contributes to the person to have heightened anger and depression (Ophir et al. 2019).

According to the survey executed by Department for Health in 2017 within the UK, it is reported that 1 in 9 children in the population between the age of 5-15 years is at risk of developing depression and anxiety (mentalhealth.org.uk, 2018). This indicates that prevalence of adolescent depression is quite high in the UK. However, existing studies lack data regarding the extent of prevalence of adolescent depression among the children of 13-17 years of age in London. Moreover, there is existing gap in studies regarding the factors that are influencing the raised prevalence and the impact of the prevalence of adolescent depression among children of 13-17 years of age in London. The existing data also lack information regarding the prevalence of adolescent depression on the basis of gender. Thus, to resolve the gaps the current research is planned to be performed where focus will be identifying prevalence of adolescent depression among boys and girls in London who are within 13-17 years of age.

Rationale of the study

The children in the adolescent stage are found to be vulnerable to abuse, social bullying and others which contributes to their emotional turmoil and disturbed mood making them develop depression (Mehlum et al. 2016). In UK, it is reported that 10.9% of girls and 7.1% of boys between the ages of 11-17 years are suffering from depression and anxiety as the major emotional disorder (mentalhealth.org.uk, 2018). In another survey conducted by the NHS, it has been revealed that 18% of girls and 12% of boys who are of 14 years of age are reported to suffer from depression (digital.nhs.uk, 2018). This indicates that girls compared to boys in the adolescent stage in the UK are prone to face increased chances of depression.

The adolescent depression has become an issue because its influence has led teenagers to develop self-harm or suicidal attitude (Mehlum et al. 2016). This is because depression leads the teenagers to make them isolated from society out of losing meaning of life, in turn, making them choose death rather than living. The adolescent depression has become an issue as many teenagers are unable to perform properly in their academics as well as in social life out of emotion. This is negatively affecting their growth and career development (Faeq, 2016). Thus, effective actions are required to understand the extent of its prevalence so that its impact and challenges for the adolescent girls and boys of 13-17 years in the London can be determined to take appropriate action to lowers its influence on their daily life.

The adolescent depression has currently become an issue in the UK as more individuals are found to be suffering from emotional disorder than previous years. It is evident in 1999 only 4.3% of population between 13-17 years are found to be affected by depression but in 2017 it is raised to 5.8% (nhs.uk, 2018). Thus, this study is important to be performed so that prevalence of adolescent depression among the girls and boys of 13-17 years of age in London can be identified to understand the factors and challenges to be controlled to lower the prevalence and ensure better well-being for the children.

Aim

The aim of the study is to identify the prevalence of adolescent depression among boys and girls aged 13-17years in London.

Research Objectives

To identify the concept of adolescent depression

To assess the prevalence of adolescent depression among the boys and girls aged 13-17years in London

To evaluate the challenges faced due to adolescent depression among the boys and girls aged 13-17years in London

To recommend strategies to resolve challenges faced due to adolescent depression among the boys and girls aged 13-17years in London

Methodology

The two different research approaches commonly used in executing nursing and medical studies are primary research and secondary research. According to Kutcher et al. (2017), primary research includes data gathering through scientific study or experimentation or research trial. This indicates that researcher in primary research approach executes experimentation to gather data directly from live participants rather than focussing on the presence of previous data. As argued by Dardas et al. (2016), secondary research is collection of data from existing primary studies or secondary information presented in previous research. This indicates the researcher in secondary research is dependent on the presence of existing data regarding the topic of their study.

The secondary research allows large collection of existing data in limited time regarding a topic that is logically and scientifically analysed and presented in previous studies (Das et al. 2016). Thus, secondary research approach will be used in executing the study. The weakness of secondary research is that to credibility and authenticity of the data presented can be violated due to personal beliefs and perception of the researcher during presentation of data (Stockings et al. 2016). The limitation will be avoided in the study by recruitment of an independent researcher who is going to evaluate and interpret the data from previous findings considered by the researcher in the study. The data presented in then will be compared with the data present by the current researcher to avoid any personal influence that has led to hindered representation of data regarding the study. The strength of primary research is data collected would be reliable but the weakness is that would take increased amount of time along with complex techniques to be used in gathering data (Kutcher et al. 2017). Thus, primary research will not be used in conducting the study.

Searching Literature

The literature search will be executed in the study through the use of electronic database. This is because electronic database offers opportunity to the researchers to avoid physical barriers along with geographical barriers along with use key concepts or words from the research question in gathering required data that is accurate and relevant to the study topic (Ghoneim and O’Hara, 2016). The electronic databases that will be used for literature search in the study include MEDLINE, Google Scholar, CINHAl, etc. In electronic literature search, the keywords that will be used are “Adolescent depression”, “depression between 13-17 years girls and boys”, “impact of depression”, “prevalence of depression”, “adolescent depression in London” and others.

Inclusion and Exclusion criteria

The inclusion criteria are characteristics which are to be focused in the study whereas the exclusion criteria are characteristics to be not included in the study as they are going to create hindrance in its execution (Heck et al. 2017). The inclusion criteria for the study will include articles published from 2015-2020, articles presented in English, articles focussing on prevalence of depression among boys and girls of 13-17 years of age in London, UK, fully accessible and academic. The exclusion criteria will include articles published before 2015, articles focussing on adult depression on London, UK, non-academic, not fully accessible and written in languages other than English. The articles in English will be involved as it is can be understood and interpreted properly by the researcher in collecting data regarding the study as they have only knowledge regarding English. The fully accessible articles will be included and others are excluded so that detailed data regarding topic focussed can be gathered. The academic articles will be included as they provide credible and authentic information research the research topic. The studies which have focussed on adolescent depression in London, UK will be selected as it is the key focus on the study.

Ethics and Bias issues

The ethical issues in the study will be controlled so that legal issues can be avoided and an enriched study is able to be produced (Vallejos et al. 2019). In this purpose, the information collected from previous studies will be properly referred with the name and year of the original author so that plagiarised work can be avoided. The data gathered from the previous studies will be analysed and presented as findings by the current researcher and another researcher independent who acts independently of the study. The facts will be compared to ensure no personal influences are used to present the data ensuring credible and reliable information. In the study, no personal details of individuals or any participants from previous studies will be shared to ensure confidentiality.

Reflection

The critical analysis of the overall experience regarding the study led me to understand that I have effective ability to identify through research proper information needed as per the study topic. This is evident as I was successful to gather information regarding the way depression among 13-17 years in London is affecting their health and the reason behind the identification of prevalence which is focussed in the study. I also have the ability to properly determine which information sources are to be involved in the study. This is essential to ensure valid and reliable data are collected and presented in the study. However, I think I lack critical thinking ability due to which in certain parts of the research I failed to present critically analysed information. The study led me to learn that I have proper ability to determine the way in which ethical and biases in studies are to be avoided. This is going to help me in presenting valid and authenticated data regarding the topic without facing legal issues. However, I learned that I require improving my writing style as I perceive that I have used limited vocabulary in presenting the information.

In future, I am going to take training and ask assistance from senior researchers regarding the way better critical analysis of data can be executed by me as well as they can be presented in critical manner to ensure execution of an enriched study. Moreover, next time I am going to use more vocabulary to develop better academic sentences in presenting information regarding any study. In future, I am going to further enhance my research skills to so better quality data can be collected and mentioned as findings in the study. Further, in future, I am going to focus on improving the reliability and credibility of the study as well as ensure better scheduling to execute the study is execute in improved manner. I am also going to improve my justification of selected methodologies in the study in future to let the reader understand the significance of preferring to use the particular methods over others in the study.

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References

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