1. Exploring awareness of parents on teenage depression in Daveyton area Matheko Elliot Masemola International Congress of Psychology 2012 Cape Town mathekom@webmail.co.za Matheko Elliot Masemola International Congress of Psychology 2012 Cape Town mathekom@webmail.co.za

2. Introduction The purpose of the proposed study is to understand awareness that parents are having on teenage depression and how they develop it. Teenage depression is a psychological disorder that affects functioning of teenagers It impact on social, psychological and academic functioning of teenagers. Teenagers often feel lonely and not cared for by elders during this painful path. Parents have primary role of developing understanding of teenagers life. One in eight teenagers in South Africa are suffering from depression and only 30% are receiving treatment, (www.safeyouth.org/scripts/teens/depression.asp)www.safeyouth.org/scripts/teens/depression.asp Teenagers in a township setup experiences similar problems that are experienced by adults such as depressive socio-economic status and lack of access to recreational facilities. It is important for parents to aware of the nature of depression in order to assist teenagers that are in need. Parents from depressed socio-economic status, semi-literate, and less involved are likely not to be aware.

3. Possible influences of awareness Cultural believe systems may have a different definition of teenage depression which may not be similar to the DSM-IV criteria There is no existence of depression definition in some cultural groups in South Africa Mental health disorders are defined differently from the Eurocentric perspective Religious believes in various communities may be having a different approach to depression There is persistence of stigma in South Africa townships to people suffering from mental health disorders such as depression Stigma may influence parents to have lesser knowledge and awareness of teenage depression The familys structure, functioning and parent-child relations may have a contributory impact Parenting styles that are less engaging and hostile may lead to damaged parent-child relationships and lack of awareness on psychological wellbeing of teenagers Parental practices and behavioural that are lacking warmth and caring may also lead to barriers of communication and hinder parent monitoring Teenage stage is also characterised by increased developmental changes which parent may not understand

4. Research Method A qualitative research method of inquiring is going to be utilised in order to explore the awareness that parents are having and how it is formed A social constructionist paradigm is going to be utilised to explore factors that lead to awareness that parents are having. This method will help in understanding how the phenomena of awareness on teenage depression by parents develop in a township context The phenomena of parental awareness of teenage depression is social constructed by daily reality, knowledge and learning in a community cultural context Teenage depression, such as any other human disorder, may be a social construct that is created, institutionalised, known and made into life and practices of a community The research will be conducted in Daveyton township, East of Johannesburg in South Africa, and situated on the border of Mpumalanga Province The township is having131,390 citizens (www.adrianfrith.com)www.adrianfrith.com

5. Method (continuing) Convenient sampling method is going to be used to select participants in the study as the researcher has access to the township. The sample will involve adults that are caring for children between the ages of fourteen and eighteen years of age. The sample participants should have the ability to be conversant and able to talk about subject of awareness of teenage depression The researcher will ensure that the sample participants selected represent the intended population of the study. Data will be collected my means of open interviews with individual participants and focus group discussions. The method of interviews is going to help in engaging and understanding construction of awareness on teenage depression by parents The focus group discussions are going to help in further understanding how the parents in the community understand teenage depression Data analysis is going to be conducted with a thematic analysis method in order to understand the awareness that parents are having on depression and it is constructed.

6. List of sources mathekom@webmail.co.za Bach, J.M & Louw, D. 2010. Depression and exposure to violence among Venda and Northern Sotho adolescents in South Africa. African Journal of Psychiatry 2010;13:25-35. Cresswell, J.W. (2003). Research Design: qualitative and quantitative approaches. London, Sage Publications. De Vos, A.S., Strydom, H., Fouche, C.B., Delport, C.S.L. (2005). Research at Grassroots: For the Social Science Professions. Van Schaik Publishers: Pretoria. Kvale, S & Brinkmann, S. (2009). Interviews: Learning the craft of qualitative interviewing. 2 nd Ed. Sage publications: London Mclean, S.C. 2003. Factors which could influence development of adolescent depression. Unisa Press: Pretoria. Tomlinson, M; Griumsrut, A.T; Steyn, D.J; Williams, D.R; Myer, R. (2009). The epidemiology of major depression in South Africa: Results from South African Health and Stress study. South African Medical Journal 2009, 99:368-373. www.adrianfrith.com www.safeyouth.org/scripts/teens/depression.asp