A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention on Depression Literacy and Stigma among Adolescent Students

Abstract

Depression literacy means to have adequate knowledge and positive attitudes in adolescents students towards Depression and stigma related to it that would make early recognition of and appropriate intervention in these disorders more likely and better outcome of illnesses. it is important to educate adolescents regarding depression and its symptoms however very little attention has been paid to depression literacy and stigma among adolescents. Aim &Objective: The Aim of this study is to Assess Depression Literacy and stigma towards depression among adolescent students and to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention on Depression. Materials and Methods:The pilot study was conducted at School Named Maharaja RajendrasinhjiVidhyalaya, Rajpipla,Gujarat40 Adolescent students were selected from a school using Convenient sampling technique after taking consent, the students were requested to fill up Performawhich included Demographic characteristics, D-Lit (Depression literacy questionnaire) and DSS (Depression stigma Scale personal and perceived) Educational Intervention on Depression was delivered to students and again post test was conducted.40 responses of the students were reviewed and analyzed in the month of November-2022. Result: Out of the 40 participants, 11(27.5%) were 16 year of age,27(67.5%) were 17 year of age and 2(5.0%) were of 18 year of age. 21(52.5%) students were Female and 19 (47.5%) were male. 38(95.05%) were Hindu and 2(5.0%) were Muslim. 2(5.2%)Students’ father had Government Job 8(20.0%) Students’ father were in Private Sector, 27(67.5%) Students’ father were self-employed, 3(7.5%) Students’ father were unemployed. 1(2.5%) Students ‘mother had Government Job 9(22.5%) Students’ mother were in Private Sector, 11(27.5%) Students’ mother were self-employed, 6(15.0%) Students’ mother were unemployed.13(32.5%) students’ mother were house wives.29(72.5%) students were living in joint family,11((27.5%) students ‘were living in nuclear Family.4(10%) students had familiarity with depression with family, 8(20%) students had familiarity with depression with friends,4(10%) students had familiarity with depression with self,23(57%)students had familiarity with depression with none. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to test normality of data and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test applied to compare averages (Median) between pre and post measures.POST TEST DLIT – PRETEST DLIT: Negative ranks are zero and all 40 differences has positive ranks. Test statistic value -5.523 with p value < 0.001 (Significance Level). i.e., DLIT score was significantly increased after intervention. POST PERSONAL DSS - PRE PERSONAL DSS: Negative ranks are 36, there is no positive rank and only 4 ties. Test statistic value -5.238 with p – value < 0.001 (significance Level). i.e., PERSONAL DSS score was significantly decreased after intervention.POST PERCIEVED DSS - PRE PERCIEVED DSS: Negative ranks are 40, there is no positive rank and ties. Test statistic value -5.518 with p – value < 0.001 (significance Level). i.e., PERCIEVED DSS score was significantly decreased after intervention. Correlation coefficient r betweenDLIT change in % and PERCIEVED DSS Change in % is -0.323 with p – value 0.042 < 0.05 (Significance Level). i.e., there is significant weak negative correlation between DLIT change in % and PERCIEVED DSS Change in %, as DLIT change in % increased PERCIEVED DSS Change in % decreased. Dependent Variable: PERCIEVED DSS Change in %Predicted regression line (equation) PERCIEVED DSS Change in % = 54.232 + -0.049 (DLIT change in %) Conclusion The students had very low levels of depression literacy and high level of stigma Education on depression was effective and reduced the sigma and improved literacy and Hence there should be a curriculum for enhancing Depression literacy among adolescent students which can reduce their stigma.