Investigation and Comparison Depression between Children and Adolescents in Normal families and Those Divorce Applicants

The aim of this research was to investigate and compare depression between children and adolescents in normal families and those who were divorce applicants in Isfahan. For this purpose, the following questions were posed: What is the prevalence of depression in children with normal families? What is the prevalence of depression in children with the families who are divorce applicants? What is the difference in depression between children in normal families and those who are divorce applicants? What is the relationship between depression and demographic characteristics in families who are divorce applicants? The statistical population comprised the children and adolescents between 8 to 16 years old in families whith family problems referred to the Divorce Center of Isfahan in the first 6 months of 1383. The chosen sample was 117 children of families who were divorce applicants. The two measurement instruments were: 1) Depression questionnaire (CDI): the questions were taken from kovacs questionnaire (1981) (27-question form) and the reliability coefficient was estimated by means of Corneback's alpha (0.85). 2) The demographic characteristics questionnaire: the questions were about the individual and social characteristics of children. The results showed that: the prevalence of depression was 8 percent in children with normal families. The prevalence of depression was 26 percent in children with the families who were divorce applicants. The results of (T-student) analysis showed that the difference between depression mean notes in children with normal families and children with the divorce applicant's families was significant (P=0). There was a significat relationship 0.129 between depression notes in children and the divorce in their parents (P=0.033), and there was a significant relationship 0.269 between depression in children and the duration of arguments in their parents (P=0). Meanwhile, the relationship between depression notes in children and their father's education was -0.221 which ws significant (P=0). There was a significant relationship -0.235 between depression notes in children and their mother education (P=0/002). The relationship between depression notes in children and their mother's job was 0.166, which was significant (P=0.004). The relationship between depression notes in children and their father's jobs was 0.155, which was significant (P=0.005). There was no significant relationship between depression notes and the other variables such as the difference between parent's age, the number of family members, economic and housing status and family income.