Abstract
M.Phil. (Adolescent Guidance)
Research studies indicate that so-called non-clinical or normal depression is a common and widespread phenomenon amongst adolescents and that the rate of depression increases dramatically in early adolescence, particularly amongst adolescent girls. Although depression is generally considered as a mood isturbance, it is in effect a whole body experience involving the mind, body and spirit of the adolescent and can cause a variety of future adjustment problems. Current research on adolescent depression indicates that depression is particularly responsive to intervention and that early identification will prevent the development of a pernicious form of depression in adolescents. This study thus focuses on the early identification of non-clinical or normal depression in girls in early adolescence. Guidelines are described to support them in their experience of normal depression. The application of guidelines is thus preventive in nature and aimed primarily at supporting the young adolescent girls. The research design followed in this study can be described as a qualitative design with an exploratory, descriptive and contextual focus. Data was collected by means of phenomenological interviews and field notes. A literature control was used to verify the findings. The study was conducted in two phases. In phase one young adolescent girls' experience of non-clinical depression was explored. In phase two the collected data was used as the basis for inferring and describing guidelines to support young adolescent girls who experience non-clinical depression. After the data was analysed, two broad themes were identified and were used as a basis to describe guidelines that can support young adolescent girls who experience normal depression. The first theme reflects their perception of how they experience nonclinical
depression, while the second theme reflects the influence of dysfunctional
interpersonal relationships between their family, peers or teachers and themselves in
precipitating or maintaining their experiences. Guidelines inferred from these themes
were described that could be applied to support them in these experiences. The findings from this study reveal that the young adolescent girls are not yet clinically
depressed, However, if intervention measures are not implemented to support them,
their feelings and experiences could develop into clinical depression. It is hoped that
this study will assist in the early identification of non-clinical depression in young
adolescent girls and that the guidelines will support them so that the development of
clinical depression can be prevented.