Neighbourhood factors and depression among adolescents in four Caribbean countries.

BACKGROUND: Past research suggests that perceived neighbourhood conditions may influence adolescents' emotional health. Relatively little research has been conducted examining the association of perceived neighbourhood conditions with depressive symptoms among Caribbean adolescents. This project examines the association of perceived neighbourhood conditions with levels of depressive symptoms among adolescents in Jamaica, the Bahamas, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent. METHODS: Adolescents attending grade ten of the academic year 2006/2007 in Jamaica, the Bahamas, St. Vincent, and St. Kitts and Nevis were administered the Neighbourhood Characteristics Questionnaire along with the BDI-II. Social cohesion, attachment to the neighbourhood, neighbourhood quality, neighbourhood crime, and neighbourhood disorder scales were created by summing the relevant subscales of the Neighbourhood Characteristics Questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the relationships of perceived neighbourhood conditions to depressive symptoms. RESULTS: A wide cross-section of tenth grade students in each nation was sampled (n = 1955; 278 from Jamaica, 217 from the Bahamas, 737 St. Kitts and Nevis, 716 from St. Vincent; 52.1% females, 45.6% males and 2.3% no gender reported; 12 to 19 years, mean = 15.3 yrs, sd = .95 yr). Nearly half (52.1%) of all adolescents reported mild to severe symptoms of depression with 29.1% reporting moderate to severe symptoms of depression. Overall, Jamaican adolescents perceived their neighbourhoods in a more positive manner than those in the Bahamas, St. Vincent and St. Kitts and Nevis. Results of a series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses suggested that a different pattern of neighbourhood factors for each island were associated with depressive symptoms. However, neighbourhood factors were more highly associated with depressive symptoms for Jamaican students than for students in the other three islands. CONCLUSIONS: Neighbourhood factors appear to be partially associated with adolescents' self-reports of depressive symptoms. However, other factors may mitigate this relationship.

Parenting and depressive symptoms among adolescents in four Caribbean societies.

BACKGROUND: The strategies that parents use to guide and discipline their children may influence their emotional health. Relatively little research has been conducted examining the association of parenting practices to depressive symptoms among Caribbean adolescents. This project examines the association of parenting styles to levels of depressive symptoms among adolescents in Jamaica, the Bahamas, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent. METHODS: Adolescents attending grade ten of academic year 2006/2007 in Jamaica, the Bahamas, St. Vincent, and St. Kitts and Nevis were administered the Parenting Practices Scale along with the BDI-II. Authoritative, Authoritarian, Permissive and Neglectful parenting styles were created using a median split procedure of the monitoring and nurturance subscales of the Parenting Practices Scale. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the relationships of parenting styles to depressive symptoms. RESULTS: A wide cross-section of tenth grade students in each nation was sampled (n = 1955; 278 from Jamaica, 217 from the Bahamas, 737 St. Kitts and Nevis, 716 from St. Vincent; 52.1% females, 45.6% males and 2.3% no gender reported; age 12 to 19 years, mean = 15.3 yrs, sd = .95 yrs). Nearly half (52.1%) of all adolescents reported mild to severe symptoms of depression with 29.1% reporting moderate to severe symptoms of depression. In general, authoritative and permissive parenting styles were both associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms in adolescents. However, the relationship of parenting styles to depression scores was not consistent across countries (p < .05). In contrast to previous research on Caribbean parenting, caregivers in this study used a mixture of different parenting styles with the two most popular styles being authoritative and neglectful parenting. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be an association between parenting styles and depressive symptoms that is differentially manifested across the islands of Jamaica, the Bahamas, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent.

The association of academic tracking to depressive symptoms among adolescents in three Caribbean countries.

BACKGROUND: Students who are tracked into low performing schools or classrooms that limit their life chances may report increased depressive symptoms. Limited research has been conducted on academic tracking and its association with depressive symptoms among high school students in the Caribbean. This project examines levels of depressive symptoms among tenth grade students tracked within and between high schools in Jamaica, St. Vincent and St. Kitts and Nevis. METHODS: Students enrolled in grade ten of the 2006/2007 academic year in Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent were administered the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). In Jamaica and St. Vincent, academic tracking was operationalized using data provided by the local Ministries of Education. These Ministries ranked ordered schools according to students' performance on Caribbean school leaving examinations. In St. Kitts and Nevis tracking was operationalized by classroom assignments within schools whereby students were grouped into classrooms according to their levels of academic achievement. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between academic tracking and BDI-II depression scores. RESULTS: A wide cross-section of 4th form students in each nation was sampled (n = 1738; 278 from Jamaica, 737 St. Kitts and Nevis, 716 from St. Vincent; 52% females, 46.2% males and 1.8% no gender reported; age 12 to 19 years, mean = 15.4 yrs, sd = .9 yr). Roughly half (53%) of the students reported some symptoms of depression with 19.2% reporting moderate and 10.7% reporting severe symptoms of depression. Students in Jamaica reported significantly higher depression scores than those in either St. Kitts and Nevis or St. Vincent (p < .01). Students assigned to a higher academic track reported significantly lower BDI-II scores than students who were assigned to the lower academic track (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be an association between academic tracking and depressive symptoms that is differentially manifested across the islands of Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent.

Depressive symptoms among fourth form students in St. Kitts and Nevis high schools.

This paper presents empirical data on the prevalence of depressive symptoms among St. Kitts and Nevis adolescent students. This paper contributes to knowledge on the prevalence of adolescent depression in an under-researched Caribbean region.

Nine years of the freebase cocaine epidemic in the Bahamas: emergence of a new pattern

Nine years the beginning of the first reported nationwide epidemic of freebase (crack) cocaine abuse, which occurred in the Bahamas, a follow-up study was done to determine the pattern of the epidemic and the effectiveness of control measures. Data included the incidence of new cases at the only psychiatric hospital in the Bahamas and the primary community pschiatric clinic in the nation. Data on police arrests, drug seizures, and results for urine screenings for cocaine abuse came from the reports of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. The number of new cases of crack abuse presenting for treatment fell from 1987 to mid-1991, with a corresponding reduction of load at the treatment facilities. However, hospitalized cocaine abuse cases began rising again in mid-1991. This paper analyzes correlates of the fall and partial resurgences of the epidemic. In 1992, crack is much more difficult to obtain than in the early and middle 1980's. The Bahamian reponse to the epidemic - including 1) demand reduction, 2) supply reduction and 3) reduction of money laundering - played an important role in the decline of new cases. Crack has not been replaced by other illegal drugs, but alcohol has resumed its former place of preference. However, despite a reduction in the rate of new crack abuse cases appearing for treatment, there has been a recent rise in violent, robberies and gang activity. This apparently is due to chronic cocainism, a pattern of long term use of crack and other forms cocaine that is resistant to treatment

Nine years of the freebase cocaine epidemic in the Bahamas: emergence of a new pattern

Nine years the beginning of the first reported nationwide epidemic of freebase (crack) cocaine abuse, which occurred in the Bahamas, a follow-up study was done to determine the pattern of the epidemic and the effectiveness of control measures. Data included the incidence of new cases at the only psychiatric hospital in the Bahamas and the primary community pschiatric clinic in the nation. Data on police arrests, drug seizures, and results for urine screenings for cocaine abuse came from the reports of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. The number of new cases of crack abuse presenting for treatment fell from 1987 to mid-1991, with a corresponding reduction of load at the treatment facilities. However, hospitalized cocaine abuse cases began rising again in mid-1991. This paper analyzes correlates of the fall and partial resurgences of the epidemic. In 1992, crack is much more difficult to obtain than in the early and middle 1980's. The Bahamian reponse to the epidemic - including 1) demand reduction, 2) supply reduction and 3) reduction of money laundering - played an important role in the decline of new cases. Crack has not been replaced by other illegal drugs, but alcohol has resumed its former place of preference. However, despite a reduction in the rate of new crack abuse cases appearing for treatment, there has been a recent rise in violent, robberies and gang activity. This apparently is due to chronic cocainism, a pattern of long term use of crack and other forms cocaine that is resistant to treatment (AU)

The association of academic tracking to depressive symptoms among adolescents in three Caribbean countries

Background: Students who are tracked into low performing schools or classrooms that limit their life chances may report increased depressive symptoms. Limited research has been conducted on academic tracking and its association with depressive symptoms among high school students in the Caribbean. This project examines levels of depressive symptoms among tenth grade students tracked within and between high schools in Jamaica, St. Vincent and St. Kitts and Nevis. Methods: Students enrolled in grade ten of the 2006/2007 academic year in Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent were administered the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). In Jamaica and St. Vincent, academic tracking was operationalized using data provided by the local Ministries of Education. These Ministries ranked ordered schools according to students' performance on Caribbean school leaving examinations. In St. Kitts and Nevis tracking was operationalized by classroom assignments within schools whereby students were grouped into classrooms according to their levels of academic achievement. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between academic tracking and BDI-II depression scores. A wide cross-section of 4th form students in each nation was sampled (n = 1738; 278 from Jamaica, 737 St. Kitts and Nevis, 716 from St. Vincent; 52% females, 46.2% males and 1.8% no gender reported; age 12 to 19 years, mean = 15.4 yrs, sd = .9 yr). Roughly half (53%) of the students reported some symptoms of depression with 19.2% reporting moderate and 10.7% reporting severe symptoms of depression. Students in Jamaica reported significantly higher depression scores than those in either St. Kitts and Nevis or St. Vincent (p < .01). Students assigned to a higher academic track reported significantly lower BDI-II scores than students who were assigned to the lower academic track (p < .01). Conclusions: There appears to be an association between academic tracking and depressive symptoms that is differentially manifested across the islands of Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent.