The Relationship Between Nutritional Status and Depression in Adolescents in SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Semarang

Abstract

Background: Depression is a major mental health problem today, especially in
adolescents. This is important because depression is often the leading cause of suicide in
adolescents. In 2018 the prevalence of depression in adolescents in Central Java was 4.4%,
and in the Semarang City Region it was 4.95%, this indicates that adolescents who
experience depression are still quite high. One of the causes of depression in adolescents is
nutritional status. Over nutrition status can cause depressive symptoms, especially in
adolescents. This is due to feelings of dissatisfaction with one's own body shape which can
lead to feelings of inferiority and withdrawal from the social environment. Methods: This
study used an analytic observational method with a cross sectional approach which was
conducted at SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Semarang. Sampling using purposive sampling
method with a sample of 30 people. Primary data was obtained by distributing identity
sheets and BDI-II questionnaires (having passed the validity and reliability tests) at SMA
Muhammadiyah 1 Semarang. Data analysis was performed using the Spearman test.
Result: In this study, it was obtained a p-value (0.000) <0.05, which indicates that there is
a significant relationship between the two variables. Judging from the ¬ Correlation
Coefficient which shows (0.776) means that nutritional status has a strong relationship with
the incidence of depression in adolescents. The majority of respondents who did not
experience depression had a thin nutritional status as many as 7 respondents (23.3%). While
the majority of respondents who experienced depression had a fat nutritional status as many
as 12 respondents (40%). This is due to the respondents' dissatisfaction with their personal
appearance, including their weight and height, which results in increased symptoms of
depression. Conclusion: There is a relationship between nutritional status and the
incidence of depression in adolescents.

Keywords: Nutritional status, depression, adolescence.