Abstract Background Adolescent depression refers to a mental disorder characterized by persistent low mood and loss of interest in individuals aged 13 to 19. This condition has become a significant component of global health challenges and is increasingly affecting younger age groups. Lack of social support and excessive economic pressure are two core factors triggering adolescent depression. However, most current research focuses on single factors, with limited studies examining the dual-dimensional structure of social support and economic pressure. This study employs data analysis and comparative experiments to explore early identification indicators and stratified intervention strategies for adolescent depression within a dual-dimensional framework of social support and economic pressure, aiming to reduce the incidence of adolescent depression. Methods The study selected 300 cases of adolescents aged 13 to 19 with depression from the clinical case database of Beijing Children's Hospital. Depression severity was assessed using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). Economic stress and social support levels were quantified via the Family Economic Status Scale (FES) and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS). In-depth interviews were conducted with patients to analyze how factors like parental emotional neglect, peer rejection (indicating lack of social support), and economic pressures (such as family bankruptcy or parental unemployment) trigger adolescent depression. Subsequently, a stratified intervention comprising psychological therapy, medication support, and social assistance was implemented for 100 of these patients. Psychological intervention involved emotional regulation for patients, while medication support required patients to take prescribed drugs as directed. Social support entailed coordinating with neighborhood civil affairs offices to provide cash and in-kind subsidies for students from financially disadvantaged families, alongside offering employment opportunities to parents through various platforms. The first 100 patients received only psychological therapy, and the last 100 received only medication therapy. Each intervention lasted for three months. Results Among the 300 patients, low mood, loss of interest, social avoidance, headaches, and sleep disturbances constituted the primary symptoms in early identification, accounting for 28.3%, 23.3%, 19.2%, 18.2%, and 17.2% respectively. Among patients, adolescents from households with monthly incomes below 50% of the local average exhibited a 200% higher depression detection rate compared to those from higher-income families, demonstrating significant differences (p.01). Adolescents from families experiencing parental unemployment or prolonged financial disputes showed an 187% higher probability of developing depression than other households, also exhibiting significant differences (p.01). Furthermore, trial results indicated that the comprehensive intervention group achieved a symptom remission rate of 76%, significantly higher than the 52% in the single psychotherapy group (p.01) and the 48% in the medication group (p.01). Discussion Findings indicate that economic stress and lack of social support are key factors triggering adolescent depression, while low mood, loss of interest, and social withdrawal serve as crucial indicators for early identification. Furthermore, interventions combining psychotherapy, medication support, and community-based support significantly alleviate symptoms in adolescents. Therefore, greater attention should be directed toward monitoring adolescents for low mood, loss of interest, and social withdrawal behaviors to promptly identify depressive tendencies.
Liang et al. (Sun,) studied this question.