Study Links Teen Depression with Sexual Experimentation, Drug Use

Agape Press ^ | 12/5/05 | Jim Brown

[wagglebee]

(AgapePress) - A prominent mental health counselor says depression may be the new sexually transmitted disease. He points to a new study that finds sexual experimentation and drug use often precede adolescent depression.

Many mental health counselors assume students will medicate their depression with sex and drug use. However, a recently published study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds that depression is actually a risk factor for sexual experimentation on the part of girls, and heavy drug use on the part of boys. The study, led by Dr. Denise Hallfors, followed more than 13,000 middle and high school students for two years in a row.

Dr. Warren Throckmorton, a psychology professor at Grove City College in Pennsylvania, says discussions of risks associated with teen sexuality need to include more than just STDs and pregnancy.

"Students who are depressed may owe their depression to their risky behavior," he observes, "which again is just one more reason why students should be warned about their behavior, that it does have consequences."

Throckmorton also contends that the findings expose some of the adverse effects of condom-based sex education in public schools, and should prompt parents and educators to discourage teen sexual relationships.

"Teenagers simply don't have the financial [or] the emotional resources to handle those kinds of relationships," the educator says. "And yet there are many people who are in the Planned Parenthood camp ... and [agree with] Advocates for Youth and groups like that who essentially say that sex if fine as long as it's physically safe. Well, this study should wake everybody up that it isn't safe."

While he acknowledges that more research is needed to isolate the causes and cures for the link between experimentation and depression, Throckmorton says "there is no reason for policy makers to wait to encourage abstinence." He says every health-care professional, school counselor, teacher, and parent should be doing that.

"Whatever we think about the morality of sexual behavior, can't we agree that teens should be given a clear and consistent message that it is best to wait to engage in sex until they are ready to accept the financial, relationship, and emotional consequences of making that choice?" he wonders. For nearly all teens, he adds, that would be adulthood.

[capt. norm]

He points to a new study that finds sexual experimentation and drug use often precede adolescent depression.

Maybe the drug thing could lead to depression, but sexual experimentation....I don't think so. At least not if they're doing it right.

[Old Student]

"If you bother to read "Catcher In The Rye" it portrays what teenagers go through. What we need is to control the hormone activity through chemistry."

In a word, NO! You trying to arrest development at the child level? We already delay maturity too much, imho. What we really need to do is understand that kids don't all develop at the same rate, and not try to force them into lock-step. Most kids don't go through the hormone-storm that a lot of people expect. Some do, of course, and they need to ride it out.

Maybe my reaction is a bit strong there, but I was what you could properly call a late bloomer. I believe I was in my mid-thirties before I really grew up. I'm 50 now, and doing things I probably should have done 30 years ago, but I've had a satisfactory career in the military, and accomplished some things I'm proud of, too. I think too many people expect kids to be little adults, and it doesn't work that way. They need to grow and develop at their own necessary rate. There will be casualties, unfortunately, but that is life.

[nicmarlo]

This "don't tell the parents their children are murdering their grandchildren" travesty is reason enough, apart from a gazillion others, not to allow our children near a public school. If there is one thing that children will never find in public school, it is real answers to real problems....

I agree, libby....it's really gotten very bad. I also read that a student has recently sued a school, successfully, for school authorities "telling" her parents that she is gay. The reason for the parent being told was because the girl violated school rules for displaying public affection while on campus (with another girl)....the Court ruled that the school violated the girl's privacy rights....even though the girl was publicly displaying physical affection and, of course, the parents needed to be told why their child was receiving disciplinary action....this "violation of privacy" would not have come up had the girl conducted herself in the same manner with a boy. So, even when a school acts properly, informing parents, the liberal courts continue the assault against families.

[Guenevere]

Where does common sense factor in?

Adolescent sexual experimentation and drugs .....

... doesn't take a rocket scientist....

...or multiple 'studies'....

.. to know it can cause depression!

[whispering out loud]

the last thing we need is more drugs in this already chemical dependent society

[whispering out loud]

please refer to post #4 I've personally counseled several teens who suffered from, "guilt, fear, and or disappointment"

Sex only has place inside marriage

[sweetliberty]

I'll tell you, Nic, one of the hardest parts of my job is seeing so clearly the fruit of being out of God's order and not being able to address the problems in a manner that might actually be effective. I'm always looking for creative ways to communicate the message that really needs to be communicated, partuicularly to the young people. It is a little easier if the family (rare) or the kids (somewhat more common) are involved in church, because then it is considered working within the support systems already in place.

There is so much we grew up taking for granted, not the least of which was knowledge of God and the scriptures. It never ceases to amaze me the profound ignorance that prevails in today's cultural climate, and it is just so wrong that those most in position to do so are not allowed to point the way to the One who can change lives and heal the soul's pain. Satan is delirious over his accomplishments. Even God's own people have become compliant with the PC status quo, and if you don't believe it, just read some of the threads on "conroversial" issues and see how many "Christian" FReepers actually sound more like DUhmmies than they do God's children.

[nicmarlo]

Satan is delirious over his accomplishments. Even God's own people have become compliant with the PC status quo, and if you don't believe it, just read some of the threads on "conroversial" issues and see how many "Christian" FReepers actually sound more like DUhmmies than they do God's children.

Absolutely....he is gleeful! As far as many of those who claim to be Christians on FR, many of their views are certainly not Christian, much less Biblical....and their apathy, indifference, and/or ignorance to the significance of events is actually, quite shocking and disappointing, to say the least.

[The_Reader_David]

I teach at K-State, and intermittently draw the "Math for Elementary Teachers" course. You should have heard the bitter complaints when I gave a 10-15 page term paper with strict rubrics on citations and sources. (It used to be that the term paper comforted the math phobics, but no more.)

[Old Student]

"Where does common sense factor in?"

You had perhaps not noticed that common sense is not very common anymore. Researchers are, among other things, trying to find out if common sense is actually right. Sometimes it is, sometimes not, apparently.

As far as why more studies are needed, the whole purpose of research is to find out what is true and applicable to the most people possible (speaking of research on people,that is). The more people they've researched, the more likely they are to approximate the truth, because that makes them more likely to have gotten a look at all the variations possible.

Look at the research on heart attacks. For decades they've generalized on about both men and women based on studies on men. They have only recently begun to notice that women don't usually have heart attacks with the same symptoms men do. They are also finding that things that work for helping men who've had heart attacks may not work as well on women, either. Need more research to find out what's up with that, too.

There are some folks who take advantage of the situation, though. Lots of unnecessary research goes on.

[Zeroisanumber]

Hmmmm... Sex and drugs seem to me to be more of a symptom than a cause. I'd look more at the kid's homelife and family history for precursors.

[Old Student]

"I teach at K-State, and intermittently draw the "Math for Elementary Teachers" course. You should have heard the bitter complaints when I gave a 10-15 page term paper with strict rubrics on citations and sources. (It used to be that the term paper comforted the math phobics, but no more.)"


I can imagine! I've just recent had to do a 10-15 page article review, formated in APA style, which I hate. Serves me right for becoming an educator, I suppose. Makes me miss the days of MLA style, not to mention the "pick your own method, as long as you cite" instruction from English 101... Ah, the good old days!

How many older, or "non-traditional" students do you get? I should be getting my teaching certificate sometime this week, and it will include my mid-level/intermediate math certification. I've got to take quite a few more math classes before I can go for the next level up. I'm actually a social studies major, but I've decided to add in a master's in special education, as well.

[desherwood7]

That's if they decide to use one. They think they're invincible.

[Ohioan from Florida]

Maybe the drug thing could lead to depression, but sexual experimentation....I don't think so. At least not if they're doing it right.

That's the point, they aren't "doing it right". Not physically right, but emotionally and psychologically, they aren't ready for it, and therefore, aren't doing it right.

[sweetliberty]

Speaking of hell.....it's been one of those days in court. What I wouldn't give to find a cure for stupid!

[nicmarlo]

What I wouldn't give to find a cure for stupid!

Hey...if you ever do....send some of that over my way....it's needed around here too! : ) Sorry you had a rough day at court....not that any day there is very thrilling.

[sweetliberty]

Oh, today was worse because I had to go to the one in Little Rock. Those people are control freaks...and untrustworthy besides. The court itself is a nightmare there and I do NOT like that judge.

[nicmarlo]

Oh, how fun....surrounded by a bunch of control freaks and a pompous judge (yes, I'm sure he/she's that, at the very least).

[SuzyQue]

Hmmmm....lemee see....teens who have problems in life that may cause depression can make them more prone to early sexual activity, drug abuse, and other anti-social behaviors which in turn may make them depressed? Is that what they are saying?