Effect of Gender and Stream on Depression among Adolescents

Authors: Vandana Sharma

Pages: 1-4

Abstract:

The current study was attempted to examine the effect of gender and stream on depression among adolescents. A sample of 300 adolescents (150 boys and 150 girls studying in XI class pursuing science, arts and commerce streams) was taken from Government Model Senior Secondary Schools of Chandigarh by using stratified random sampling technique. Beck Depression Inventory-II was used for data collection. For the analysis of data 2X3 ANOVA was used and t-test was employed wherever F-ratio was significant. The results demonstrated that gender and stream had significant interaction effect on depression among adolescents. Both were dependent on each other to affect the depression score of students. Also, gender and stream differences emerged on depression. Girls showed higher score on depression as compared to boys, and arts students were more depressed as compared to science and commerce students. Further, it was observed that science, arts and commerce stream boys were not differed significantly on depression but girls in science, arts and commerce streams showed significant difference on depression and it was favoured by arts girls. In case of science and commerce streams no significant gender differences occurred. But in arts stream, significant gender differences were observed on depression with preponderance of girls over boys. Results of the study indicated a clear effect of gender and stream on depression among adolescents.