Unique Predictors of Depression among High-Achieving Tehran Adolescents: An Integrated Model

Mohammad Sepahani, Zainal Madon, Rumaya Juhari, Sahar Heidary, Shahram Vaziri

Abstract


Background: Depression is a leading global health issue, affecting roughly one in five adolescents worldwide. Psychosocial factors like social support, educational stress, hopelessness, and coping likely influence depression risk, but their combined effects in Iranian youth are understudied. We examined how perceived social support, educational stress, hopelessness, and coping together predict depressive symptoms in a sample of high-achieving adolescents in Tehran.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study of n = 405 secondary students (aged 15–19) from eight semi-government schools in Tehran, self-report measures were administered: self-answer for demographic, Beck Depression Inventory BDI/BDI-II for depression, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Educational Stress Scale for Adolescents (ESSA), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Multiple linear regression assessed the unique contribution of each predictor.
Results: The regression model explained 32% of depression variance (R² = .32, F (4,400) = 47.16, p < .001). All four predictors were significant: higher adaptive coping and greater perceived support were associated with lower depression (β = –.29 and β = –.22 respectively), while higher educational stress and greater hopelessness predicted higher depression (β = +.14 and β = +.23) (all p < .001,).

Conclusions: Consistent with theory and prior research, social support and effective coping were inversely related to depressive symptoms, whereas academic pressure and hopelessness were positively related. These findings suggest interventions should enhance supportive resources and coping skills while addressing stress and pessimistic cognitions. Future longitudinal research and school-based prevention programs are warranted.


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References


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