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Depression in Afro-American female adolescents

In Afro-American female adolescents depression is one of the biggest mental health problems. In society, today young adolescents are influenced by the internet such as influencers that have plastic surgery. Plastic surgery plays a big part because a lot of people are getting surgery because they are not happy with the way they look. Another way Afro-American female adolescents are influenced is by celebrities and people that are in their age range that are on reality tv shows. Afro-American female adolescents are also influenced by makeup, hair, implants, and body tracker. Being influenced can increase the risk of depression overall.

Furthur Reading

When developing depression it is hard to overcome. Many different reasons females suffer from depression are due to body image and not fitting in with society. When Afro-American female adolescents start to feel like they are experiencing depression, they tend to feel ashamed and unhappy which will increase a negative body image. Also when Afro-American female adolescents start to experience negative peer pressure this can affect their mental health issues along with anxiety. Negative peer pressure can lead adolescents to engage in self-harm and start to have suicidal thoughts. Having direct negative connections between anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts can take over a person's mind and body.

Negative peer pressure and adolescents can lead to having poor confidence in yourself and can distract you from performing well. When experiencing negativepeer pressure it can lead you to distance yourself from the most important people around you like your family and friends. Being peer pressure is not always negative, it also has a positive effect as well to someone. When experiencing positive peer pressure and adolescents it can develop the necessary coping skills for adulthood. Positive peer pressure can encourage adolescents to avoid risky behaviors which is beneficial during difficult times.  

Body image is a combination of the thoughts and feelings about your body. Body image is a view you see yourself not just in the mirror but how physically and mentally you feel. Body image has a negative and positive side. The negative side of body image is losing your self-esteem and the positive of body image is accepting who you are no matter what. Low Self-esteem also plays a big part in body image because if you do not like the way you look nor do you feel comfortable with the way you look, you will tend to dislike who you are and this will lead you to depression. When experiencing low self-esteem, these symptoms can lead to having direct negative connections with yourself.

In conclusion, body image and peer pressure play a big part in depression in adolescents. It is very important to surround yourself with positive influencers to avoid developing depression and anxiety.

Refernece

Witherspoon D, Latta L, Wanf Y, Black MM. (2013). Do depression , self esteem, body esteem, and eating attitudes vary by BMI among African American adolescents? JPediactric Psychology 38(10): 1112-20.

Witherspoon D, Latta L, Wanf Y, Black MM. (2020). Longitudinal bidirectional relations between body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms among black adolescents: A crossed-lagged panel analysis. PLos One 15(1):e0228585.