Indian Journal of Positive Psychology © 2021 Indian Association of Health, Research and Welfare

2021, 12(3), 232-235 ISSN-p-2229-4937,e-2321-368X

http://www.iahrw.com/index.php/home/journal_detail/19#list

Relationship between Psychological Well-being and

Depression among Selected Adolescents
Sherin Joseph and Rosalito De Guzman
The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines

The current study is supported by empirical evidence that depression can impair one's mental well-being. The high
prevalence rate of adolescents with depression often harms their life. It affects the emotional, physical, and spiritual
health of adolescents and reduces their psychological well-being. Thus, early prevention is needed, and more
researches are required to raise awareness of this issue. The extensive literature shows that adolescent depression
leads to poor PWB. In India, in recent years the prevalence of depression is alarmingly high and has become one of
the most serious national illnesses. The goal of this study is to look into the link between PWB and depression in
adolescents. This study included a correlation investigation between depression and PWB among 400 adolescents
from India. The data for this study was gathered using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDl-11) and Ryff's
Psychological Well-being measures (RPWB). The Pearson correlation coefficient revealed a very substantial
negative correlation of .773 among depression and mental health, implying that low PWB has an impact on
depression. This study emphasizes the growing public health problem of depression and calls for the
implementation of an effective intervention program aimed at improving adolescents' PWB.

Keywords: adolescents, depression, psychological well-being

Depression is the most prevalent mental illness in all cultures and age
groups worldwide (Geraei, 2018). According to a 2017 report by the
World Health Organization, depression is the largest cause of global
disability, affecting 322 million people worldwide (Trent et al.,
2019). Researchers have suggested adolescents as the most
vulnerable age for a depressive episode, and alarmingly increase
depressive episodes among adolescents in recent years (Mojtabai et
al., 2016).
Adolescents in the Indian population represent approximately 21
percent of the total population (Shekhawat et al., 2019). The
prevalence of depression among Indian adolescents, 40 percent, and
one out of six adolescents with mental illness is affected in India
(Sinha et al., 2020). According to Barry and the research companions
(2013), there are reciprocal relationships between depressive
symptoms and positive mental health. The researchers discovered a
strong link between depressive symptomatology and PWB in this
study. The strategies to encourage mental well-being could be
successfully introduced in schools with adolescents. Psychological
well-being is a protective factor against mental disease and
psychopathology in studies undertaken over the last few decades
(Keyes et al., 2010). The association between health and depression
is further interlinked to age with higher symptoms of depression
(Schönfeld et al., 2017). Research carried out for the students by
Tiwari and Tripathi (2016) found that depression negatively impacts
Author Note
Sherin Joseph, The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas
Manila, Philippines
Rosalito De Guzman, The Graduate School, University of Santo
Tomas, Manila, Philippines
We have no known conflict of interest to disclose
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
Sherin Joseph, The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas
Manila, Philippines
E-mail: sherin.joseph.gs@ust.edu.ph
well-being.
The results also indicated a positive association between
depression and PWB, which shows that students with low
depression reported high psychological well-being. Priesack and
Alcock (2015) found that PWB was positively correlated with self-
efficacy, while low self-efficacy was linked to negative feelings like
depression and helplessness. Investigations have suggested that
depression and psychological well-being are closely linked (Peeran
et al., 2014). High depression rates have poor mean well-being
scores and vice versa. Research by Lamers and his colleagues (2011)
also found a correlation between depression and psychological
health. A study conducted by Tweng (2020) found that the well-
being of adolescents decreased dramatically between 2011 and
2018, with decreases in happiness and life satisfaction and increased
depression. According to Grant and his colleagues (2013), research,
having more severe depression symptoms is linked to a worse sense
of well-being. Individuals who reported lower baseline well-being
showed significant increases in depression symptom scores over
time, according to the study. Study shows that during this stage, they
notice that there is a lack of experience of autonomy, environmental
mastery, positive relationships, and life meaning among
adolescents. As a result, depression is a significant problem among
higher secondary students. When the depressive symptoms are
prolonged, it reduces and Studies also suggested that depression and
PWB are two correlated variables. Both are associated with mental
health and mental illness axes. Strong depression rates have low
mean well-being scores and vice versa (Lamers et al., 2013).
Psychological well-being is negatively correlated with
depression (Smith & Yang, 2017). Individuals with higher PWB are
more likely to live longer, have a better quality of life, and attain
higher levels of productivity and performance. It is also correlated
with greater mental well-being and fewer social problems. PWB is
inevitable for leading a meaningful life with high motivation
directed towards expected goals (Kubzansky et al., 2018).
Depression has a significant negative impact on the PWB of