The Influence of Parental Status on Depression And Self- Esteem Among Adolescents in Ghana; A Case Study of The Christian Methodist High School

ABSTRACT     

Divorce, single parenting and issues associated with parental status on an adolescent’s wellbeing specifically, adolescents’ depression and self-esteem has been on an increase worldwide and Ghana is no exception. This study was aimed at examining the influence of parental status on depression and self esteem of adolescents in Ghana after noticing that adolescents going through formal education face many challenging situations as a result of diverse marital issues of their parents. Specifically, the study was aimed at examining if a significant difference existed between parental status on depression and self-esteem of Ghanaian adolescents. It also investigated relationship between depression and self-esteem among adolescents. It further examined if a difference existed between female adolescents who live with their single-parent mothers and male adolescents who live with both parents on depression. Lastly, it examined whether a significant sex differences existed among adolescents on self-esteem. In all, 308 respondents were selected across the three stages of the senior high educational level to respond to the questionnaire. Findings of the analyses revealed that adolescents of single-parents had significantly more depression than adolescents of intact-parents. Adolescents of intact-parents had significantly higher personal self-esteem and general self-esteem than of single-parents but there was no significant difference existed between them on social self-esteem. There was a significant negative relationship between depression and social self-esteem, personal self-esteem, and general self-esteem. However, there was no significant interaction effect observed between sex (male and female) and parental status (single-parent-father, single-parent-mother, and intactparents). Male adolescents had significantly higher social self-esteem, personal self-esteem, and general self-esteem than female adolescents. Necessary implications and recommendations to the educational sector, clinicians and other relevant mental health professionals have been made.