[Study on the prevalence of depressive symptom and the association of parental occupational status with depression among high school students in Nanjing].

OBJECTIVE:To learn the prevalence of depressive symptom and to analyze the relationship between parental occupational status and depression among high school students in Nanjing. METHODS:With a stratified cluster random sampling method, the baseline survey was conducted in 2202 high school students chosen 53 classes from 5 schools (3 junior high schools and 2 senior high schools) in baixia district chosen from 6 urban districts in 2009. The same samples were followed up in 2010 and 2011. Depressive symptoms were assessed using Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). Parental occupational status was categorized into four groups, both employed, father unemployed, mother unemployed, and both unemployed. The total number of respondents was of 2160 in the baseline survey, with a response rate of 98.1%, in which 2118 (98.1%) and 2032 (94.1%) were followed up in 2010 and 2011, respectively. RESULTS:There was no significant difference in the positive rate of depressive symptom in the baseline and consecutive 2-year follow-up surveys (P = 0.108), while the proportions of moderate and severe depression were most highest in 2011 (P = 0.002). SDS index score and the positive rate of depression were most highest in students with parents both unemployed. Multivariate logistic analysis indicated that parental occupational status was significantly linked to depressive symptoms among students. The regression coefficients of generalized estimating equation (GEE) were statistically significant between parental occupational status and depression. CONCLUSION:Depressive symptoms is a common in high school student in Nanjing. Parental occupational status may be associated to depressive symptoms and much attention should be paid by health officers and instructive staff.