摘要：Objectives. We examined the association between 2 important public health problems in the developing world: parental domestic violence and depressive symptoms during adolescence. Methods. Data on depressive symptoms and witnessing of domestic violence were obtained during private face-to-face interviews conducted in 2002 with 2051 Filipino adolescents 17–19 years of age. Results. Symptoms of depression were common; 11% of young men and 19% of young women reported wishing that they were dead occasionally or most of the time, and nearly half of all respondents recalled parental domestic violence. Female adolescents had significantly higher scores than male adolescents on a 12-item index of depressive symptoms. Both male and female adolescents who had witnessed parental domestic violence reported more depressive symptoms. Conclusions. Filipino adolescents who have witnessed parental domestic violence are significantly more likely to report depressive symptoms. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 20% of all children and adolescents suffer from a disabling mental illness. 1 Globally, suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents. 2 Although adolescent mental health issues have been relatively understudied, there is increasing evidence that a significant proportion of adolescents experience depression and that these symptoms can have lasting negative effects into adulthood. Worldwide, it is estimated that three quarters of childhood and adolescent mental disorders remain untreated, and in developing nations it is likely that 90% are not treated. 3 Even in developed nations with “well-organized” health care systems, between 44% and 70% of such disorders remain untreated. 3 In many lower income countries, there are fewer than 10 psychiatrists or psychologists per 1 million residents. 4 Although overall rates of mental health disorders and behavioral disorders are similar among men and women, there are clear gender and age differences in depression. 1 Depressive disorders are more common among women, 5 whereas substance use and antisocial personality disorders are more common among men. 4 Gender differences in levels of depression emerge during adolescence. 6 – 8 In addition, the connections between domestic violence and mental health problems have been well documented in adult women. 1 , 8 – 10 Several studies, mostly conducted in the United States, have shown that experiencing adverse events in childhood is associated with poorer mental health status in adulthood. 11 – 15 Only limited data are available on depressive symptoms among adolescents and the relationship between such symptoms and parental domestic violence. We attempted to quantify levels of depressive symptoms in a cohort of more than 2000 Filipino adolescents and to assess the relationship of these symptoms to recall of parental domestic violence.
