Relationship between depression and resilience in adolescents with congenital heart disease

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between depression and resilience in adolescents with congenital heart disease(CHD) and to identify the variables associated with depression. Methods : The Resilience Scale(cronbach’s α=0.92), Children's Depression Inventory(cronbach’s α= 0.72) and Maternal Behavior Research Instrument(cronbach’s α=0.88) were applied and analyzed to assess depression and resilience among 231 adolescents after surgery for CHD from three major cardiac centers in Korea. This group consist of 114 males and 117 females. The mean age was 15.8 years(range : 13-18 years). The clinical severity of illness was rated by CHD functional index and NYHA functional class. Results : The mean score for depression and resilience was 16.74(range : 0-49) and 115.84(range : 70132) respectively. Depression was significantly related to age(r=0.25, P<0.001) and NYHA functional class(r=0.35, P<0.001), as well as being negatively correlated with oxygen saturation(r=-0.39, P< 0.001), academic achievement(r=-0.41, P<0.001), parental attitude(r=-0.49, P<0.001) and resilience (r= -0.59, P<0.001). The results of multiple regression analysis showed that parental attitude(β=-0.48, P<0.01) and resilience(β=-0.62, P<0.01) were related to depression. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that adolescents with CHD had a higher resilience and were less depressed with an affectionate parent. With respect to medical and nursing intervention programs, it is essential to identify strengths of adolescents with CHD in order to increase their resilience. Additionally, it is also important that parenting and counseling programs be implemented for the parents of adolescents with CHD. (Korean J Pediatr 2006;49:523-528)