CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0       Background of the Study
 Depression is one of the most widespread mental disorders among youths (Kiringlen, Torgersen & Crammer, 2001) in Western society. Depression is an affective, or mood disorder. It is an illness that immerses its sufferers in a world of self-blame, confusion and hopelessness. It is an illness of the mind. Some could argue that depression is a way of coping with life’s pressures (Schwartz, 1993). In the past, depression was not recognized to exist among youths. However, researchers studying depression suggest that depression exist among youths (Loh, 2010).
Depression in youths has been acknowledged as a problem (Nunley, 2001). Depressive symptoms are often viewed as normal adolescents’ behavior or moodiness. Adolescents with depressive symptoms have difficulty expressing how they feel and may use other means of expression such as acting out which often interpreted as misbehavior. Early psychoanalytic formulations presumed that young adolescents did not have the psychological structure (e.g. super ego functions) to truly experience depression, clinical and empirical evidence revealed that adolescents do indeed suffer from both depressive symptoms and depressive disorders. In fact, depression in adolescent was overlooked rather than “masked” possibly because of disruptive behaviors and co morbid disorders were more salient than were depressive symptoms. Depression is a serious problem that impacts every aspect of adolescents’ life. It can lead to drug abuse, self-loathing and pregnancy, violence and even suicide. Depression can destroy the very essence of adolescents’ personality causing an overwhelming sense of sadness, despair or anger. Usually, adolescents rely on parents, teachers, or caregivers to recognize his or her suffering and get him or her treatment.
Depression in youths is increasing on an alarming rate and statistics on adolescent depression are sobering. Studies have indicated that depression in youths affects approximately 35-40% of the adolescent’s population, most alarming among adolescents. One among five may suffer from depression (Ruston, Forcier and Schectman, 2002). The impact of depression is detrimental to the psychological well-being of the people including adolescents, which will bring adverse effect to a country’s progress.
Many factors influence youth’s depression. Among such factors are academic work, stress, anxiety, self-esteem, parental care, etc. However, this study focuses on three of this factors which are social support, self-esteem and religiosity, (Rohner, 2007).
Finch & Vega (2003) discussed that social support among youths involves measures of social, emotional and spiritual support along with the peers and family groups. Yeh & Inose (2003) social support is predictors of depression control. Very often, social support systems play a great part in validating individuals’ self- concept. When there is lack of social support, it is very easy for the individuals to feel rejected as they perceive selves as losers, failure or outcast. So they become depressed and isolate self.
Youth’s depression may also have a link to self-esteem. Self -esteem is the ability to be assured of one’s own abilities, talents, worth, value as well as having personal acceptance, approval and respect for one-self. Studies conducted in 1990s revealed that depression and low self-esteem occur with disproportionately high among adolescents (Orth, Robbins and Meier, 2009). Low self-esteem also means the development of a poor or negative self-image. Such beliefs can become a self-fulfilling prophecy of expecting to fail (Riddick, 1996). Although most adolescents experience difficulty in developing positive self-esteem, research indicate that adolescents who maintain positive self-esteem report more positive affective states, greater wellness, more life satisfaction, and fewer depressive symptoms (Dixon, 2005). Therefore, if youth have high self-esteem, they may report lower levels of depression.
The word religiosity is conceptualized as ritualistic or liturgical practices, organized belief systems and doctrines, and desire to relate to the sacred and divine (Kim & Esquivel, 2011). Going by this notion, it could be concluded that Nigeria as a nation is a religious nation since a greater percentage of its populace is attached to one form of religion or the other which influence virtually all aspects of their behaviors. Explaining perceived reasons why religion may have a potent influence in curbing youths from undesirable social vices, Rohrbaugh and Jessor (1975) explained that religion inculcates in youths a sense and awareness of norms, moral order issues and standard or appropriate behavior; establishes the individual in conservative activities in a systematized sanctioning network; and proffers a creed that is based on the nature of the deity as a source of punishment and wrath.
Providing a better understanding of perceived social support, self-esteem and religiosity will help in controlling depression among youth in Nigeria, hence the focus of this study.
Religion is an important part of people’s life. Often it gives an explanation as to why certain events happen – good or bad. Religion can shape one’s view of the world.