Child Depression In The School Context

The aims were to analyze depression rates in 8-12 year olds in a Spanish sample, to explore the relationship between depression and school adjustment, and to study teachers’ competence in detecting depression symptoms. The sample comprised 1102 students who filled out the Behaviour Assessment System for Children (BASC), and the Children's Depression Scale (CDS). Teachers completed an adapted version of the Teacher's Report Form (TRF). About 4% of the sample presented clinically significant depressive symptoms. The findings show that school maladjustment predicts depression. Self-esteem is also a predictive factor for girls, but not for boys. Teachers’ assessment correlated with girls’ self-reports.