Depressive symptoms and the sexual orientation among adolescent students: a cross-sectional study

• Main Authors: Adalberto Campo-Arias, Mailín Arrieta-Puello, Kelly Fontalvo Durango, Lloyd Luna-Salcedo, Jeidis Bánquez Mendoza, Zuleima Cogollo Milanés, Carmen Elena Díaz Montes
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga 2005-12-01
• Series: Medunab
• Subjects: Depressive symptoms; sexual orientation; adolescents students; Cross-sectional study.
• Online Access: http://editorial.unab.edu.co/revistas/medunab/pdfs/r83_ao_c3.pdf

Researches in otherpopulations report a strong association between sexual orientationand depressive symptoms, that is, bisexual, gay, lesbian and unsureabout sexual orientation adolescents refer more depressive symptomsthan heterosexual students. Objective: To determine the associationbetween the sexual orientation and depressive symptomsin adolescent students of a public school at the city of Cartagena, Colombia.Method: A cross-sectional study was designed. This surveyincluded students aged 13-17 year-olds. These students completedin the classroom a questionnaire about health behaviors and theZung´s self-rating depression. Logistic regression was computed forcontrolling confounding variables. Results: A total of 432 students,219 boys and 213 girls, completed successfully the survey. The meanage was 14,6 (SD=1,3), and the mean scholarship was 8,4 (1,5). Atotal of 21,1% of girls and 19,2% of boys considered themselvesbisexuals, gays, lesbians or insure about sexual orientation. Depressivesymptoms were related to sexual orientation exclusivally amonggirls (OR=1,10, 95%CI 1,01-1,18), after controlling confounding factors.Conclusions: Among these adolescent students, depressivesymptoms were associated with the sexual orientation only amonggirls. It is likely that this association could be explained better by the gender than the sexual orientation. Futher investigations are needed in Colombian adolescents students.