The Influence Of Parental Status On Depression And Self-Esteem Among Adolescents In Ghana: A Case Study Of The Christian Methodist Senior 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.