The role of family function and positive youth development in prediction of depression of female adolescents

The identification of positive family and personality factors affecting the reduction of negative outcomes in adolescent girls is important. This study aimed to study the family function and positive youth development to predict depression in adolescents. The present study was a correlational-descriptive design. The statistical population consisted of all secondary school female students (second period) in the city of Tehran who were studying in the academic year 2018-2019. So, 293 girl adolescents that were selected from 18th district of education regions by method was multi-stage cluster. According to the sample loss, 293 individuals were included in this study. To collect data, Geldhof et al.’s Positive Youth Development Scale(2014), the  Epstein et al.’s Family Assessment Device(1983), and Kovacs and Beck’s Child Depression Inventory(1977) were used. Data were analyzed by using SPSS24. The results revealed that competence, confidence, and connection respectively played significant roles in predicting depression (p= 0/001), and totally explained 39% of the variance of depression. The components of family function including role, problem solving, and emotional expression respectively had significant roles in predicting depression (p= 0/001), and totally explained 25% of the variance of depression. Overall, the results indicated the importance of family function with emphasis on the components of positive youth development including competence, confidence, and connection in adolescent depression.