Coping Strategies among Adolescent Children of Depressed and Non Depressed Parents

Objective: The objective of the present study was to find out differences in coping strategies of adolescents of depressed and non-depressed parents. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) Hospital in Islamabad during the period of April 2014 to June 2014. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 130 adolescents including 50 from families of depressed parents and, 80 from non-depressed parents. The data was collected through purposive sampling technique. Brief COPE scale was used to assess coping strategies of the subjects. Results: The results indicate significant difference in coping strategies of adolescents of depressed and non-depressed parents. The adolescents of depressed parents used more dysfunctional coping strategies such as active avoidant coping strategy. The results also highlighted significant gender differences. Conclusion: Results of the study suggest that children of depressed parents use dysfunctional coping strategies as compared to children of non-depressed parents. The findings are important for future research and prevention studies with children of depressed parents to incorporate healthy and functional coping strategies.