Cli̇ni̇cal Evaluati̇on of the Relati̇onshi̇p Between Mi̇grati̇on and Depressi̇ve Symptoms i̇n Adolescents Attendi̇ng a Pedi̇atri̇c Outpati̇ent Cli̇ni̇c

Background: Migration can have significant psychological and social impacts on adolescents. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of migration history in adolescents and to examine the relationship between migration and depression levels, body image, and peer relationships.Methods: The study included 211 adolescents aged 10–18 years without chronic medical illnesses. Participants were compared with those with and without a migration history in terms of depression levels, peer relationships, body image, and smoking.Results: 31.3% of the participants were found to have a migration history. No significant difference was found in depression scores between the groups with and without a migration history (p>0.05). However, adolescents with a migration history were found to have more negative peer relationships (p=0.02) and to engage in regular exercise more frequently (p=0.012). Furthermore, depression scores were found to increase with increasing age at migration.Conclusion: This study suggests that migration is not a direct determining factor in depression in adolescents; However, it has been observed to negatively impact peer relationships. Participation in sports activities is thought to be protective against the negative effects of migration on mental health. Based on these findings, it is recommended that migration history be considered in mental health assessments for adolescents and that social support mechanisms be strengthened. Findings highlight the need for psychosocial screening in pediatric clinical settings.