PROBLEM SOLUTION
Continuing with the exploration of solutions to your Capstone Project that you began in Week 8, choose one solution to the problem for this paper. Be sure to support your solution with information cited from the academic literature. For this Assignment, you will need to incorporate the ideas that you received in the Week 8 Discussion. Conclude with a description of the positive social change that could result from the implementation of this solution.
To prepare:
Review the potential solutions generated in Week 8, and identify one solution to address the Capstone problem.
Review the feedback provided in the Week 8 Discussion and incorporate any ideas or suggestions.
Consider the following questions to evaluate and explain the solution you have selected:
Is the solution realistic; is the solution supported in the research literature?
What would be the advantages and challenges to implementing the solution?
What are the barriers to implementing this solution?
What are the consequences of the solution, and who would be impacted?
What is the potential for social change?
From the Learning Resources “Social Change Series” web resource, choose and review one or more of the social change webinars that are of relevance and interest to you. Think about your Capstone problem and how you might promote positive social change.
Assignment
Based on the scientific knowledge and research skills that you acquired throughout the program, develop a solution that could lead to a successful resolution of the problem.
Explain advantages and challenges to the implementation of this solution.
Conclude with a minimum of 2 paragraphs describing the potential for positive social change that could result from this solution and how you might promote positive social change.
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Causes and Effects of Depression in Children and Adolescents
Laquita Cole
Walden University
Course
Professor
April 16, 2023
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Causes and Effects of Depression in Children and Adolescents
Depression and anxiety are common mental health disorders which, although mostly
diagnosed among adults, are increasingly common among children and adolescents. Mental
health conditions are often linked with other conditions and can worsen the health and wellbeing
of children with other disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). It is, therefore,
imperative to understand the causes and effects of depression in children to effectively deal with
them. This paper discusses three causes and three effects of depression in children and
adolescents.
Causes
One of the main causes of childhood and adolescent depression and anxiety is abuse and
neglect. Abuse and neglect are adverse childhood experiences that, unfortunately, many children
and adolescents experience. A study by Elmore and Crouch (2020), found a positive correlation
between the experience of adverse childhood events, especially neglect and abuse and anxiety
and depressive symptoms. This is a problem mostly associated with the social environment in
which the children grow up. Neglect, physical, and emotional abuse cause suffering which
induces feelings of hopelessness and low self-esteem. This can significantly contribute to
depressive symptoms.
A second and related cause of depression and anxiety in children is experiencing trauma,
whether abuse-related or major events in life. The sources of trauma may be due to abuse and
neglect, but they can also be due to events such as losing a parent, experiencing family
separation, and domestic violence in the home. Trauma significantly affects the brain responses
to stress and stimuli. A traumatic event causes an over-secretion of cortisol and norepinephrine
and causes increased response in subsequent stressors (Bremner, 2022). As a result, stressors that
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would be considered minimal for the child who has not experienced trauma may cause a
disproportionally large reaction in the sympathetic system. This contributes to symptoms of
depression and anxiety.
Another cause of depression in children is illness and preexisting health conditions. A
chronic condition can cause depression and anxiety due to the constant stress and struggles one
has to undergo to lead a normal life. Among children, being diagnosed with ODD or with
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increases the risk of depression and anxiety
diagnoses (Mitchison & Njardvik, 2019). The two conditions often cause problems getting along
with peers and adults in school and at home. This may in turn cause feelings of worthlessness
and helplessness which in turn could develop into anxiety or depression.
Effects
Depression and anxiety have significant effects on children and adolescents including
poor performance in school. One of the ways to tell a child may be struggling with a mental
health condition is if their school performance is poor. Children with depression and anxiety
exhibit challenges in concentrating and may not enjoy learning activities hence leading to poor
performance (Elmore & Crouch, 2020). Poor concentration and loss of interest are symptoms of
depression. They may also be identified as anxiety disorder and consequently affect daily
activities such as learning.
Additionally, children with depression and anxiety are more likely to engage in risky
behaviors, especially drug use. Evidence has presented a clear connection between depressive
and anxiety disorders and engagement in risky behaviors including binge drinking, smoking, and
other drug use (Pozuelo et al., 2022). In children and adolescents, the use of drugs is often a
means of coping with their condition and sometimes may be an attempt to fit in. A child who
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feels worthless and has low self-esteem is susceptible to peer pressure on drug use as a means of
proving their worth to themselves and others. Depression and anxiety also affect coping
mechanisms hence causing poor coping such as drug use.
Lastly, depression and anxiety may adversely affect the growth and development of
children and adolescents. The numerous impacts of depression and anxiety on the life and brain
of the child affect their health outcomes. A child that is depressed or has anxiety has an altered
social interaction with other children and adults (Colasanto et al., 2020). As a result, they may
develop problems in emotional regulation as well as social skills. Similarly, poor sleep and loss
of weight may affect physical development. In general, children and adolescents that experience
depression and anxiety are likely to experience challenges in their growth and development.
Conclusion
The causes and effects of depression and anxiety in children are distressing because the
majority can be prevented. The causes are generally predictable. The cause that is mostly
associated with depression and anxiety is likely to be abuse and neglect. This is because it is also
controllable as children need to live in a safe environment to avoid these effects. The most
preventable cause of depression and anxiety is abuse and neglect and there is need for proactive
action for the same. Understanding the background of children exhibiting depressive and anxiety
symptoms is crucial in developing interventions that are appropriate and adequate for them.
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References
Bremner, J. D. (2022). Traumatic stress: Effects on the brain. Dialogues in Clinical
Neuroscience, 4(1), 445-61. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2006.8.4/jbremner
Colasanto, M., Madigan, S., & Korczak, D. J. (2020). Depression and inflammation among
children and adolescents: A meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 277, 940-948.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.09.025
Elmore, A. L., & Crouch, E. (2020). The association of adverse childhood experiences with
anxiety and depression for children and youth, 8 to 17 years of age. Academic
Pediatrics, 20(5), 600-608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2020.02.012
Mitchison, G. M., & Njardvik, U. (2019). Prevalence and gender differences of ODD, anxiety,
and depression in a sample of children with ADHD. Journal of Attention
Disorders, 23(11), 1339-1345. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547156084
Pozuelo, J. R., Desborough, L., Stein, A., & Cipriani, A. (2022). Systematic review and metaanalysis: Depressive symptoms and risky behaviors among adolescents in low-and
middle-income countries. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry, 61(2), 255-276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2021.05.005
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