Relationship Between Resilience, Friendship Intimacy, and Depression of Secondary School Students in Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

Depression is a psychological problem that greatly affects a person, especially adolescents, their families, society, and the nation. The most severe impact leads to suicide; therefore, preventive depression is an urgent and important issue that should be co-operated by stakeholders. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between resilience, friendship intimacy, and depression in secondary school students in Nakhon Ratchasima province. The participants were 284 secondary school students year 1 – 6. The research instruments included demographic questionnaire, Resilience Inventory, Friendship Intimacy Questionnaire, and Thai version of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation coefficient.

The findings revealed that resilience sum-scale and sub-scale—I have, I am, and I can were significantly negative association with depression (r_s = -.459, p = .000; r_s = -.418, p = .000; r_s = -.455, p = .000; r_s = -.400, p = .000, respectively), and friendship intimacy was significantly related to depression among secondary school students (r_s = -.149, p = .012). Results from this study will provide a basis for strengthening resilience and friendship intimacy of adolescents in secondary school to prevent adolescent depression.