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IMPACT OF DEPRESSION ON TEENS' School, Friendships, and Daily Life

Author:
Jemma Strain
Jemma Strain
B.S. Psychology
Editor:
Emma Loker
Emma Loker
B.S.
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Depression in teenagers is not just about having “a couple of bad days.” It’s a widespread mental health condition that can seriously impact academic performance, friendships, and daily life.1

The symptoms of depression include persistent sadness, hopelessness, fatigue, low motivation and concentration, and poor self-esteem. Each of these issues can affect a teenager’s emotional and physical well-being in a variety of ways – but it doesn’t have to. 

Support and guidance are available for anyone concerned about the effects of depression. This article can help by covering:

  • The impact of depression on teen academics
  • How depression affects teenage friendships
  • The influence of depression on a teenager’s daily life
  • How to reduce the impact of depression on academics, friendships, and day-to-day life
  • Therapy options for teenage depression
  • When to seek help for the impact of depression on teens
Impact of depression on teen boy's life

Impact of Depression on Teen Academics

Teen depression can affect academic performance in a variety of ways, having a knock-on effect on a teenager’s self-esteem and outlook on the future. The impacts of depression on teen academics include:

Problems Concentrating

Depression and school performance have been shown to be linked through problems concentrating. Many students with depression have said that feeling sad or down affects their ability to focus on and complete schoolwork. What’s more, the more severe the symptoms of depression are, the more a teen may struggle to concentrate. This finding is also backed up by studies of the brain, which show that the area responsible for concentration is reduced in the brains of people with depression (the hippocampus).2,3

Motivation to Engage

Motivation is when we put energy into a task or goal because we want a desired outcome. However, teenagers with depression may see the future as “bleak,” so might struggle to see the point in pursuing a goal. Additionally, teens with depression may turn away from tasks they see as “negative” or “too hard” to protect themselves from hurt – even if these tasks are important for achieving a goal. Teens with depression might also believe that they have no ability to control the outcomes of their efforts, so may not see the value in putting energy into something.4,5

Difficulties Remembering

Teenagers with depression may find it difficult to interpret new information and remember facts. This may partly be to do with their desire to detach themselves from information they see as “negative,” but it also could be due to memory processes in the brain that still aren’t fully understood. Plus, this finding may not only be for negative information – it might apply to memories they deem as positive too.3,4

Fatigue

Studies show that between 43-73% of teenagers with depression report extreme tiredness or fatigue. In fact, fatigue is often the most commonly reported physical symptom of depression. This sense of tiredness may come down to the sleep disturbances or inability to sleep that teens with depression often experience. Yet, it may also have to do with how depression can cause inflammation of the brain. Either way, fatigue can seriously affect a teenager’s ability to engage with schoolwork as they might find it hard to muster up the energy.6,7

Low Attendance and Higher Dropout Rates

Due to lack of motivation, low energy, physical illness, and social withdrawal, depression may lead a teenager to not attend school or even drop out. Low school attendance can have a direct effect on a teen’s academic performance, as they may miss out on important instructions, not complete assignments, and feel too overwhelmed to catch up.8

Poor Academic Achievement

The combined effects of difficulties concentrating, problems retaining information, low motivation, and poor attendance mean that a teenager with depression may likely achieve lower grades than their peers. This low performance may impact their self-esteem and outlook for the future even further. 

Depression Affecting Teenage Friendships

Depression not only can take a toll on a teen’s academic performance – it also can impact their friendships. Having meaningful friendships as a teenager is essential for well-being; they give a sense of belonging and support during a time of rapid emotional and physical change. 

Depression can take a toll on friendships in the following ways:

Low Self-Esteem

Depression can cause a lot of negative beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world around us. A teen with depression may assume that they’re not “likable,” so may be highly sensitive to the reactions of others. This effect is known as “rejection sensitivity” and could cause a teen to go around in circles in their mind about how others see them negatively.9

Lack of Motivation to Engage

In the same way that teenagers with depression may struggle to muster the motivation to participate in school work, they might also lack motivation to spend time with friends. This may mean not making plans with friends or canceling them last minute. Over time, this type of withdrawal may mean that others don’t try to spend as much time with them due to seeing their actions as a lack of interest.4

Withdrawal

Teenagers with depression may withdraw from friendship groups because of social anxiety – they might fear being misunderstood and rejected by others. In this way, teens with depression contribute to their own isolation. However, sometimes actually experiencing a lack of empathy from others can intensify feelings of loneliness.10

Saying or Doing Hurtful Things

While some teenagers with depression may bottle up their feelings, others may lash out in angry or aggressive outbursts. It can be difficult to cope with the feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness that depression causes, so such teenagers may struggle to find an outlet. However, when the outlet becomes friends, a teen may find themselves isolated because others start to fear their actions.11

An Inability to Cope With Friends' Problems

Teenagers with depression have an increased sensitivity to negative information. However, the teenage years can be fraught with complications and teens often turn to each other for support. Because teens with depression are more sensitive and vulnerable to their friends’ distress, they may be less able to cope with others’ difficulties and may withdraw from friendships.12

If you or someone you care about is experiencing symptoms of depression, you are not alone. Professional support and advice are available. There are also steps you can take to look after your mental health in the here and now – which we’ll discuss next.

Depression Contagion

In contrast to how some teenagers withdraw from friendships in which others express distress, if friends bond over feelings of sadness, they could develop “depression contagion.” Emotions can spread, so depression contagion can form when friends literally experience each other’s feelings through processes in the brain triggered by “mirror neurons.” This phenomenon could induce depression in some teenagers or worsen it in teens who already experience it.13

Depression can affect friendships, but it doesn’t have to. If you’re concerned about how depression is affecting your bonds with others, there is support available. 

Teen girl struggling with the impact of depression

How Depression Influences Daily Life in Teens

The influence of depression on a teen’s daily life may depend on factors such as their age, type of depression, and severity of symptoms. However, depression impacts how a teen functions every day in a variety of ways, including: 

Depression can take a toll on friendships in the following ways:

Neglect of Daily Tasks

Because of fatigue, lack of motivation, and feelings of hopelessness, a teen with depression may neglect daily responsibilities. This can feed into a cycle of depression where decreased activity means greater feelings of shame and worthlessness, potentially making depression worse, and further lowering the desire to complete tasks.14

Frequent Physical Pain

Depression can cause a teenager to experience regular pain without a clear medical cause. We often store stress and trauma in the body, so it can show itself in ways we don’t expect, such as stomach pains, digestive issues, headaches, and muscle and joint pain. Hence, a teen with depression may experience physical illnesses that could affect their everyday life.15

Relationship Problems

Teens with depression often feel misunderstood and ashamed, so they may respond negatively to what they see as criticism from family and friends. They might also act out in aggression and anger without any clear cause – although the reason might be obvious to them. Acting in such ways can create a lot of arguments with family members and friends which can disrupt a teen’s quality of life. As a result, they may withdraw from social groups, and feel increasingly alone and isolated.16

Additionally, family and friends might not understand what a teen with depression is going through, which may cause them to act in confrontational ways – potentially contributing to a teen’s feelings of sadness.

Poor Self-Care

Depression causes a lack of motivation, which we now know affects school performance and willingness to make plans with friends. However, this lack of motivation also can lead a teen to neglect their physical and personal well-being, including not eating properly or exercising and failing to look after their appearance or hygiene. This lack of self-care can impact already struggling self-esteem in teens with depression.17

Along with the issues teens with depression face in school and friendships, their difficulties with daily life can create a vicious circle of depression that can be tough to break. However, with the right information, support, and help, it is possible to treat and heal from depression.

Reducing the Impact of Depression on a Teen’s Life

As might be clear by this point, teenage depression can seriously affect a teen’s school performance, relationships with friends, and daily life. What’s more, the longer these issues go on, the more of an impact they can have on a teen’s well-being and future prospects. 

If you’re concerned about teen depression in someone you know, letting them know that you’re there to support them can help. Plus, early intervention in the form of professional mental health treatment can be the best step a teen can take for their quality of life. 

Other steps you can take are:

Managing Daily Life With Teen Depression:

  • Talk to them: Letting a teen with depression know they have support and love can help them cope with what they’re going through. You can also ask them whether they feel like professional support would help. 
  • Encourage healthy lifestyle changes: As a teen may be making the cycle of depression worse by not eating healthily, sleeping properly, or taking care of their hygiene, supporting them in this area could help. For instance, perhaps cook healthy meals with them, encourage them to not use electronic devices before bedtime, suggest going on walks, or book them an appointment with a hairdresser – small steps can make big changes.

Managing School With Teen Depression:

  • Consider speaking to the school: Teachers and other educational professionals are very aware of how widespread depression can be and how it can affect a teen’s life. Speaking to someone in the school to let them know what’s going on could mean they can support a teen with their difficulties. However, depending on a teen’s age, it may be important to speak to them about sharing this information first, as they might either not feel comfortable about it or want to have a role in their support.
  • Support them in practical ways: While it’s important not to take over a teen’s responsibilities, a parent or caregiver can support a teen with their schoolwork in practical ways. For instance, you could reduce feelings of overwhelm by temporarily taking over one of their household chores. You could also ask questions like “What are you struggling most with right now? Is there anything I could do to support you?”

Managing Friendships With Teen Depression:

  • Boost their confidence: A teen with depression might lack confidence and may have rejection sensitivity. It could help to sit down with them and brainstorm times when friends showed they were supportive and caring towards them. If these times are hard to come by, you could encourage them to take part in new activity groups – including ones in which they could learn a new skill as this might give them a feeling of accomplishment. 
  • Encourage “small” socializing: A teenager might feel overwhelmed by the prospect of big social events – having to speak in front of others or the idea of being rejected might feel like too much. However, hanging out with friends doesn’t have to be “big.” Small socializing can include watching a movie together at home or going to the cinema – this way, they can bond without feeling intimidated. 

 

Reducing the Impact of Depression on a Teen’s Life

Talking to a teen about what they’re going through, encouraging them to socialize in gentle ways, and supporting them with schoolwork can all be protective actions against the effects of depression. However, sometimes these steps aren’t enough – depression can still impact a teen’s well-being. But it doesn’t have to. 

Professional mental health support can help a teenager process the causes of depression and learn how to cope with life’s challenges in healthy ways. There are a number of effective therapy options for teens with depression, including: 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is one of the most effective therapies for depression as it can help a teenager pinpoint and understand the causes of negative thoughts. It can also target how to challenge these thoughts, build healthy ways of coping with them, and transition these skills into the world outside of therapy.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Previous experiences can increase the risk of depression and affect how trauma is stored in the brain. EMDR can help teens process this trauma and how it’s stored in a safe, supportive environment.

Interpersonal Therapy

This form of therapy helps teens understand how problems in relationships can contribute to their feelings – and figure out healthy ways to work through these issues for better mental health.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

TMS can be effective in treating treatment-resistant depression. It’s a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to activate nerve cells in targeted areas of the brain – improving outlook and mood.

Each of these therapies can be used to treat different types of teen depression in both residential mental health treatment programs and outpatient programs depending on a teen’s needs. Additionally, group therapy can help a teen understand that they’re not alone in their experiences and form important social bonds.

Depending on symptoms, a doctor may also prescribe antidepressants for depression in teens. It’s good to understand that, while medications often have an important place in recovery, they are most effective when combined with therapy. 

Teenagers recovering from the impact of depression

When to Seek Help for Depression’s Effects on School, Friendships, and Daily Life

If depression is starting to affect a teen’s school performance, friendships, and daily life, the time to seek help is now. Early intervention can help prevent depression’s long-term impacts on a teen’s emotional and physical health, as well as help them recognize that a bright future lies ahead. 

Mission Prep offers comprehensive and personalized depression treatment for teenagers in various locations which aims to get to the root of the problem. Our team of trained mental health specialists can help a teenager feel connected, capable, and hopeful about the future. You are not alone; together we can achieve better mental health. 

A teen with depression doesn’t have to deal with what they’re going through alone. Reaching out to a mental health professional can help ensure a bright present and future – where depression doesn’t rule over emotions, thoughts, and actions. 

Mission Prep can help. Our team of trained mental health professionals offers comprehensive and individual depression treatment for teens in various locations. We consider depression’s impact on teenagers’ lives, including on sleep, eating habits, energy levels, and ability to think, before creating a treatment package that caters to each teen’s specific needs. Contact us today for support and advice.  

References

  1. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Depression. https://www.who.int/health-topics/depression#tab=tab_1
  2. Humensky, J., Kuwabara, S. A., Fogel, J., Wells, C., Goodwin, B., & Van Voorhees, B. W. (2010). Adolescents with Depressive Symptoms and their Challenges with Learning in School. The Journal of School Nursing : The Official Publication of the National Association of School Nurses, 26(5), 377. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059840510376515
  3. Dillon, D. G., & Pizzagalli, D. A. (2018). Mechanisms of Memory Disruption in Depression. Trends in Neurosciences, 41(3), 137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2017.12.006
  4. Grahek, I., Shenhav, A., Musslick, S., Krebs, R. M., & Koster, E. H. (2019). Motivation and Cognitive Control in Depression. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 102, 371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.04.011
  5. Crocker, L. D., Heller, W., Warren, S. L., O’Hare, A. J., Infantolino, Z. P., & Miller, G. A. (2013). Relationships among cognition, emotion, and motivation: Implications for intervention and neuroplasticity in psychopathology. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7, 261. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00261
  6. Higson-Sweeney, N., Cooper, K., Dunn, B. D., & Loades, M. E. (2023). “I’m always going to be tired”: A qualitative exploration of adolescents’ experiences of fatigue in depression. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(5), 1369. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02243-3
  7. Lee, H., & Giuliani, F. (2019). The Role of Inflammation in Depression and Fatigue. Frontiers in Immunology, 10, 1696. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.01696
  8. Finning, K., Ukoumunne, O. C., Ford, T., Danielsson-Waters, E., Shaw, L., Romero De Jager, I., Stentiford, L., & Moore, D. A. (2019). The association between child and adolescent depression and poor attendance at school: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 245, 928–938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.11.055
  9. University of Rochester Medical Center. (2023, August). Rejection sensitivity. Behavioral Health Partners Blog. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/behavioral-health-partners/bhp-blog/august-2023/rejection-sensitivity
  10. Aronson, O., & Bergh, D. (2021). “Adolescents who feel depressed are rejected but do not withdraw: A longitudinal study of ethnically diverse friendship networks in England, Sweden, and Germany”. SSM – Population Health, 15, 100889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100889
  11. Ruchkin, V., Stickley, A., Koposov, R., Sukhodolsky, D. G., & Isaksson, J. (2023). Depressive symptoms and anger and aggression in Russian adolescents. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 17, 130. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00677-w
  12. Bernasco, E. L., Nelemans, S. A., L Kaufman, T. M., & Branje, S. (2023). Depression Socialization in Early Adolescent Friendships: The Role of Baseline Depressive Symptoms and Autonomous Functioning. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 52(7), 1417. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01776-9
  13. Paz, L. V., Viola, T. W., Milanesi, B. B., Sulzbach, J. H., Mestriner, R. G., Wieck, A., & Xavier, L. L. (2022). Contagious depression: Automatic mimicry and the mirror neuron system – A review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 134, 104509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.12.032
  14. Centre for Clinical Interventions. (n.d.). Vicious cycle for depression [Information sheet]. Government of Western Australia. https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/CCI/Mental-Health-Professionals/Depression/Depression—Information-Sheets/Depression-Information-Sheet—04—Vicious-Cycle-for-Depression.pdf
  15. Surah, A., Baranidharan, G., & Morley, S. (2014). Chronic pain and depression. Continuing Education in Anaesthesia Critical Care & Pain, 14(2), 85-89. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjaceaccp/mkt046
  16. Goodman, R. J., Samek, D. R., Wilson, S., Iacono, W. G., & McGue, M. (2019). Close relationships and depression: A developmental cascade approach. Development and Psychopathology, 31(4), 1451. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579418001037
  17. Mu, Y., Xu, X., Xu, Y., Dong, D., Zhou, N., Dai, N., & Shen, Z. (2022). Association between self-care disability and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly Chinese people. PLoS ONE, 17(4), e0266950. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266950

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