The following are environmental risk factors for teen depression:
Low Self-Esteem:
Low self-esteem can be caused by depression, but pre-existing low self-esteem in teenagers can also be a risk factor for developing depression. Self-esteem is a teenager’s opinion about themselves and their abilities. When a teen has low self-esteem, they might talk to themselves negatively and feel hopeless or like a “failure.” Such negative self-talk can lead to persistent feelings of sadness and depression.18
Stress:
“Good” stress can give us the energy to achieve goals, however long-term “bad” stress can contribute to depression. When we’re stressed, our bodies enter “fight or flight” mode which prepares us to either fight against a threat or run away from it. However, a teenager can neither fight against nor flee from many sources of stress, like the family environment or exam pressure. This means that cortisol can build up in the brain and cause a teenager to feel “stuck.”19
Previous Experiences:
Depression might seem like it comes “out of the blue,” but past events might contribute to it. Teenagers who experienced trauma, such as abuse or violence, have been shown to have a higher risk of developing depression than those who didn’t. When children and teens go through trauma, they might no longer feel like their world and the people in it are “safe” which can affect their outlook on life. This might make a teenager more sensitive to negative events and lead to depression.20,21
Other Mental Health Conditions:
Pre-existing mental health conditions, such as anxiety and eating disorders, may increase a teenager’s risk of developing depression. For instance, studies have shown that up to 63% of people with an anxiety disorder also meet the criteria for depression. This effect might have to do with the shared neurochemistry of these conditions – how the reward pathway in the brain functions is similar in both anxiety and depression.22
Developmental Conditions:
Having a developmental condition such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) could put a teenager at higher risk of developing depression. Some studies report that this effect could be due to increased irritability (perhaps from feeling misunderstood or frustrated). Also, the more a teen is aware of their differences, the more likely they may be to develop depression.23,24
Social Media Use:
Recent research has examined the effect of social media use on teenager’s mental health and found that it can increase the risk of depression. Excessively using social media like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook can reduce self-esteem and cause emotional distress in teenagers. Additionally, when teenagers’ access to these sites was limited (by parents or teachers) many became anxious and upset.25,26
