Summary and comment - Article Example

Summary and Comment In Adolescent Depression: Stressful Interpersonal Contexts and Risk for Recurrence, the Constance Hammen contends that clinical and research issues face significant challenges due to high rates of depression, especially among young adolescent women (Hammen 200). Depression leads to impairment of normal functions and leads to various problems, such as alcohol abuse, behavioural disorders, and school difficulties among others. He also argues that depression could cause maladjustment and recurrent chronic depression and impairment.

Since the condition is as a result of circumstances and events that lead to stress in the individual, the author contends that depression should be studied in the context of stress. Depression, he says, is typically triggered by chronic stress and stressful life events, although this does not mean that stress will ultimately lead to depression. Those who have a history of depression are significant contributors to various stressors, including interpersonal ones, especially for young adolescent women (Hammen 201).

These interpersonal stressors are, in turn, predictive of a vicious cycle in which there is a recurrence of depression. During early adolescence, interpersonal dysfunction is predictive of increased probability of consistent maladaptive functioning in their roles as parents, lovers, family members, and peer group members. Depression leads to transmission of depression to one’s spouse and marital dissatisfaction and discord, as well as difficulties in parenting and transmission of depression to the next generation (Hammen 202).

In addition, depression can also be transmitted from one generation to the other through genetic inheritance factors. Also, there is likelihood that depression could be transmitted to young people because they are in a life that traps them in the context of parental and marital discord, which, in turn, leads to dysfunction for their children and continued depression on their part. Finally, the author contends that there is a need for research into sources of interpersonal vulnerabilities and how they operate (Hammen 203), as well as research that targets depressed adolescents who have increased risk of recurrent depression and treatment for it.

The author deals with a pertinent issue, especially among adolescents, because they seem to be unhappy most of the time. Additional effects wrought by hormonal balancing and other changes associated with adolescence, the study of adolescent depression is important because it is difficult to diagnose (Goodyer 43). The author’s explanation of why adolescents get depressed is detailed, although it is not exhaustive. For example, adolescents are under enormous pressure to perform both socially and in school, which is a major cause of stress and subsequent depression.

In addition, other pressures that emanate from sexual orientation could also be a significant predictor of depression. However, the explanations given by the author are the relevant ones in answering his research question. The author could have clarified a very important point about adolescent depression and its stress factor, which is that depression in adolescents, occurs when the things they enjoy, do not aid in the reduction of their sense of isolation or sadness, whatever the cause of the stress.

It would have been better if the author had dealt with the symptoms of adolescent depression better and in more depth, which would have supported his argument. For example, adolescents with depression tend to change their eating and sleeping habits, while even showing increased criminal behaviour like shoplifting (Goodyer 51). In addition, depressed adolescents also show apathy, pain complaints, inappropriate and excessive guilt, difficulty in making decisions and concentrating, irresponsible behaviour, and memory loss.

However, the fact that these symptoms are not present in all depressed adolescents may have been the reason they were left out by the author. Works CitedGoodyer, Ian M. The Depressed Child and Adolescent. Cambridge [etc.: Cambridge University Press, 2009. Print. Hammen, Constance. "Adolescent Depression: Stressful Interpersonal Contexts and Risk for Recurrence." Current Directions in Psychological Science. 18.4 (2009): 200-204. Print.