Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112124

Katherine A. Best, MSW, MPH¹, Roger A. Boothroyd, PhD¹, Mary Armstrong, PhD², Ren Chen, MSPH³, Angela Gomez, PhD², and Rhonda Ort, BSW⁴. (1) Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, 13301 North Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, 813-974-7909, kbest@fmhi.usf.edu, (2) Department of Child and Family Studies, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, (3) Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612-3809, (4) Dept of Mental Health Law & Policy, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612

Background: Further investigation of contributing factors and course of development of female adolescent depression is justified in light of potential consequences of untreated depression; a 12-fold risk factor for suicide. Purpose: To investigate the contributions of exposure to community violence and personal victimization to suicidality and depression and mediating variables. Methods: A sample of 125 mother/daughter dyads were identified from the 2000-2001 Florida Medicaid eligibility data using the family identifier and other matching variables. The design is a mixed method four-year longitudinal study utilizing both administrative and interview data. Findings: Preliminary analyses revealed that in 2002, 25% of the girls exceeded the criterion score on the CES-D; increasing to 33% in 2003 and jumping to a dramatic 56% in 2004. The rates of clinical depression obtained among these Medicaid enrollees exceed national estimates by nearly 46%. During the past year only 7.3% of the daughters received a Medicaid reimbursed mental health service. Thirty seven percent reported being abused, with (21%) reporting sexual assaults. Sixteen girls report witnessing someone shot, 13 girls report witnessing someone being killed, and 20 report witnessing a stabbing. Abuse was significantly related to CES-D score at (t=-2.017, p= <. 05); girls reporting victimization were 1.6 times more likely to score above the criterion score. Findings from the year 2005 will be available for presentation as well as further multivariate analyses on suicidality. Discussion: Findings suggest a substantial unmet mental health need exists and evidence for interventions that actively screen for exposures to violence are needed.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)Recognize the impact of exposures to violence on depression and suicidality in adolescent females.
• 2)Identify risk and protective factors for mental health outcomes.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Depression

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.