Depression among Young Individuals: Qualitative Data Analysis
Research Aim
The current research aims at exploring the outcomes of depression among individuals. While this condition is well-known for a broad range of specialists and the public, it is very often misunderstood, misinterpreted, and individuals suffering from depression may be neglected due to the dissemination of this problem. At the same time, it is a well-known fact that the outcomes of depression can be severe. Numerous studies reported that depression may lead to minor issues, like low mood and irritability; yet, the untreated condition can cause sleep deprivation, heart attacks, social anxiety, and even suicide (Chase et al., 2010; Bair et al., 2007). Depression can occur due to various reasons among people of any age and last for a very continuous period. People suffering from this condition usually have problems in maintaining social relationships, work productively, or enjoy life in general. Very often, it leads to the use of substances, including drugs and alcohol. It is a state of low mood or even apathy that can influence person’s thoughts, behavior, and the sense of well-being. It is customary to distinguish between different kinds of depression, like major, chronic, or manic depressions. This state is also connected to people who either experienced critical situations or have a highly stressful job. The main aim of the present data analysis is to recognize the main triggers of depression among participants, their methods of dealing with this condition, and the outcomes of this state for individuals.
Significance of the Study
This topic is significant due to its dissemination among the population. Specifically, about 350 million people are suffering from depression in the world; around 8 million U.S. citizens experience major depressive disorders (WHO, 2016; CDC, 2012). This condition tends to hit more people each year and despite the innovations in medicine and other fields, it still remains a major healthcare problem in the world and inside the U.S. While there are a lot of methods to deal with this problem, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and drug treatment, there is still a lack of methods that may prevent depression from occurring. The main significance of the current data analysis is in the attempt to better understand the experience of people suffering from depression, the most common ways they use to deal with this condition, and the major outcomes of this state.
It is essential to recognize the severity of the problem and go beyond the simple targeting of symptoms but to address the causes and the role of society and community in this problem. While there are a lot of speculations regarding the high rates of depression, like cultural specificity, stressful job, or the specificity of personality, it has to be noted that this state may have similar causes and roots that may be prevented by using more effective tools in fighting with this problem. Depression is the state known to almost all people, which makes the investigation of this problem relevant and important for the research. For the present study, it is important to specify the main causes, outcomes, and coping methods used by different individuals.
Development of Coding Frame
The current research analyzed12 participants, where 6 of them were males and the other six were females. All 12 respondents are aged from 17 to 24. During the process of watching the videos, reading the transcriptions, and coding, some changes were made regarding the character of codes, as it was revealed that participants mentioned several crucial issues during the interview. As the current aim of the research is to recognize the main causes, outcomes, and methods of dealing with depression, additional topics were targeted during the analysis. While developing a coding frame, it was noticed that the participants described their condition in a specific way and shared their experience regarding the treatment interventions, which was considered crucial for the present study. First of all, the analysis of participants’ reaction to the treatment prescribed by the clinicians revealed that they are not always effective. It can help the specialists to evaluate these interventions better and create a better approach to the patients. Secondly, specific terms used by the participants to characterize their condition, such as “feeling low” or “being broken”, may point to the cultural stigma existing in society regarding the mentally disturbed patients that have to be addressed. Therefore, these issues were believed to be vital for the qualitative analysis as well.
During the process of coding, it became clear that the answers of participants are somewhat similar in their reaction to the environment. However, there were crucial differences in sensations of the interviewees, the causes of their depression, and their reaction to this condition. One of the crucial elements of the coding frame is the precise identification of the major issues addressed by interviewees. Simultaneously, there are some limitations in the analysis. First of all, some of the participants suffer from several mental conditions, including ADHD, Chronic Fatigue, bipolar disorder, and panic disorder, where depression is one of the co-occurring conditions. Thus, while not all respondents mentioned their treatment, the healing process is different for each of them.
Analysis of Findings
During the analysis, it was recognized that participants had both similarities in their experience of depression, so as crucial differences, which predetermined the development of their condition. One of the most important codes was the recognition of the cause of the problem by the interviewees (Appendix 1). In general, the causes of depression may vary significantly, from a break up to the loss of a job. After analyzing the study, it was possible to come to a conclusion that in the majority the causes of depression are external, rather than internal. The majority of the respondents claimed that they were bullied in school, misunderstood by parents, or felt they were isolated from the group. There is a certain prejudice against people who suffer depression, especially those who seek professional help. It was revealed that such individuals are considered unstable, weak, and difficult to deal with, which sometimes leads to their isolation from the social environment; this fact usually deteriorates their mental state (Morrison, 2008). Also, persons suffering from depression are usually ridiculed or misunderstood by the public and the members of their close circle. In the case of the current study, in many cases, social isolation and actions of peers triggered the development of depression. In some cases, participants struggled to define the cause of their condition. There were two participants who blamed drug and alcohol abuse for their depression. For instance, one of the respondents admitted using ecstasy, which, according to his words, led to depression. At the same time, there was only one incident where the cause of depression was problems in the family.
Coping methods used by participants were quite different (Appendix 1). A lot of them used the reasoning of their actions and clear evaluation of the conditions, which may be caused by the cognitive-behavioral therapy usually prescribed for such condition. One participant used religion as the guide through her mental instability, which, according to her words, helped in some instances. It was noticed by previous studies that some of the patients with mental problems turned to religion for guidance, which made a positive therapeutic effect. At the same time, such coping technique may be questionable for a long-term effect. Other coping techniques included the abuse of alcohol and drugs, as it was easier to fade away the pain at least for some time. Yet still, this method led to the deterioration of patients’ health and intensification of depression.
As it was expected, the outcomes of prolonged depression were severe. The majority of patients had at least one suicide attempt and a lot of them were harming themselves in various ways, from cutting the wrists to throwing oneself to stairs. Other severe outcomes include chronic fatigue, high incidence of panic attacks, anxiety, and false seizures. One of the respondents developed psycho-somatic disorder when she could not walk without a stick, yet her physical health was ideal. While this condition has been researched by numerous scholars, there are still a lot of issues existing in this topic (Grover et al., 2012). For instance, it is quite difficult to provide a clear diagnosis due to the variety of symptoms. Fletcher (2013) and Lee & Tso, (2006) admitted that somatic disorders can develop if depression is ignored for a prolonged time. Overall, this participant had a wide variety of severe outcomes only due to the fact that her depression started at a very young age was ignored by parents and specialists.
One of the most significant blocks identified during the analysis was the way participants identify their condition. While a lot of them struggled to provide a clear definition, some of them claimed that they were broken, felt low, or being not themselves. While it is common for individuals suffering from depression to identify their state in a negative manner, feelings of being different, broken, or low point to the fear of being excluded from the group, which is essential for people. Barua et al. (2010) admitted that for younger people inability to be a part of the group usually serves as a basis for the development of depression.
Finally, interviewees showed a different reaction to treatment. One of the participants was mistreated by clinicians, as he was not provided with the adequate instructions of when and how to take medicines, which lead to the deterioration of his condition. Yet, a lot of respondents admitted a positive effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy and in some instances, drug treatment. This is the most popular treatment option for the patients with depression, which proved its efficacy in many studies (Mor & Haran, 2009). At the same time, it is possible to admit certain disadvantages of modern treatment of depression, including the negligence of clinicians who consider depression among younger people as something normal. Also, in a lot of cases, patients are provided help too late when the disease has already progressed.
References
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Mor, N., & Haran, D. 2009. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Depression. The Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, 46(4), pp. 269-278.
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Appendix 1: Coding Frame
