Adolescent Depression Prevalence and Factors: A Jordanian Cross-Sectional Study

Objective There is a great deal of variation in the prevalence of adolescent depression among nations, but overall, it is a severe and common mental illness that is a major contributor to disability on a global scale. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, the severity of its symptoms, and its characteristics among adolescents residing in Amman, Jordan, in 2023. Method A cross-sectional design was used to collect descriptive data from 784 adolescents from Jordan, aged between 14 and 17 years. Participants were administered the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess the prevalence and severity of depression as well as measures of socio-demographics and health history. Significance was set at p ≤.05. Results The mean age was 15.56 +/- 1.077 with 55% female and 45% male participants, with a prevalence of moderate to severe depression of 32.4%. This study identified four significant predictors of depression: female sex, cigarette smoking, history of mental health problems, and family history of psychiatric disorders. Conclusion Our findings highlight the importance of directing prevention and intervention efforts toward adolescents, considering the projected increase in depression rates across the Arab region. This serves as a warning for policymakers and healthcare professionals to prioritize this demographic in their strategies.