EPA-0670 – Depression, Hopelessness and Anxiety: Significant Relations

Abstract

Introduction:

The association between depression, hopelessness and anxiety is relatively ignored in the literature of the Arab World, particularly using Beck Depression, hopelessness, and anxiety inventories.

Objectives:

To examine the relationship between depression, hopelessness and anxiety in a Kuwaiti adolescence.

Methods:

The participants were 616 (308 boys & 308 girls) first year Kuwait University students. The genders were matched in age (18.15±0.36 & 18.18±0.38, t=0.94, p>.05), and BMI (24.12±3.27 & 23.50±4.85, t=0.54, p>.05). The Arabic versions of Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and demographic surveys were administered to participants in the class. All participants read and signed a consent form before test administration. Independent Sample t Test, the exploratory factor analysis, correlation matrices, and stepwise regression model are used in this study.

Results:

Internal consistency of scores were satisfactory for the BDI-II, BHS & BAI inventories respectively (Cronbach's alpha = .83, .85, .90). The girls scored significantly higher than boys did on the BDI-II (t=10.25, p<.001), BHS (t=13.53, p<.001) & BAI (t=11.76, p<.001). A correlation of .59 between the BDI-II and BHS to .42 with BAI. Meanwhile the correlation of .33 between BHS & BAI. A principal-axis factor analysis with oblique rotation suggested one factor, accounting for 63.27% of the common variance. Multiple regression revealed that the main predictor of depression was hopelessness.

Conclusion:

The current data provides strong evidence that among Kuwaiti depressed teenagers feel hopeless and anxious.