The purposes of this dissertation were to: (1) measure the prevalence of depressive symptoms among Thai adolescents; (2) identify variables associated with depressive symptoms among Thai adolescents; (3) determine whether cognitive styles mediated the effects of attachment with parent and peers and everyday stressors on depressive symptoms among Thai adolescents; and (4) examine the psychometric properties of the Everyday Stressors Index - Adolescents version (ESI-A) in a sample of Thai adolescents. Data were collected from 950 high school students in Saraburi province, Thailand. Measurements used were the Everyday Stressors Index-Adolescents version [ESI-A] (Chareonsuk, 2005; Hall, 1983), the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment [IPPA] (Armsden & Greenberg, 1987), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale [CES-D] (Radloff, 1977), and the Adolescent Cognitive Styles Questionnaire [ACSQ] (Hankin & Abramson, 2002). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, principle component analysis, bivariate correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis.
The prevalence of a high level of depressive symptoms in this sample of Thai adolescents was 33%. Greater everyday stressors and fewer secure attachments to peers and mother were both directly and indirectly associated with a higher level of depressive symptoms, through negative cognitive style. Negative cognitive style and father attachment were only directly associated with a higher level of depressive symptoms. Peer attachment was the strongest predictor of depressive symptoms, followed by everyday stressors. Both mother attachment and negative cognitive style were the third strongest predictors, and father attachment was the forth strongest predictor of depressive symptoms. Negative cognitive style partially mediated the effects of everyday stressors and attachments to peers, mother, and father on depressive symptoms. The results of the psychometric properties of the ESI-A provide support for the reliability and validity of the ESI-A in a sample of Thai adolescents. However, it must be noted that item 18 (bias by your teachers) double loaded on two factors. It is recommended that item 18 should be reworded to clarify the meaning of the term "bias".
Keywords . Depressive symptoms, Thai adolescents, Cognitive style, Parental and Peer Attachment, The Everyday Stressors Index-Adolescent version
