What Are the Causes of Sadness in Teens?

While some sadness is natural in teenagers, prolonged or severe sadness can be a serious condition. The causes of sadness can vary from one teen to another, but certain factors can make adolescents more prone to sadness, especially a family history of depression, a high-stress environment, substance abuse and poor social skills. According to eMedTV, gender also plays a significant role in sadness: girls are more likely than boys to become depressed.

Stress

• Growing up can be very stressful for adolescents. Striving for good grades, trying to fit in, and dealing with changes in hormones puts a lot of pressure on teenagers. Getting bad grades or being picked on can make adolescents feel inadequate, overwhelmed and lost. Teenagers generally struggle with their self-image, believing that they are not beautiful, smart, funny, creative or athletic enough. These feelings are frequently compounded by the physical and hormonal changes that teenagers naturally experience. This combination of circumstances sometimes leads to sadness and depression, especially if teens are isolated, lack coping skills or experience a traumatic event. Teens who are unsupervised, have difficulty establishing autonomy, cannot communicate with their parents, or struggle with their sexual orientation are more likely to experience stress and are thus more likely to become sad.

Traumatic Events

• Many traumatic events can trigger temporary or long-term depression in teenagers, even if these events do not seem particularly important to adults. When teenagers get dumped by a boyfriend or girlfriend, they often become very depressed, feeling as if they have been abandoned or believing something is wrong with them. The death of a close friend or relative and divorce of parents can also cause depression, especially when teenagers are not prepared to handle loss.

Abuse

• Sometimes depression in adolescents results from serious circumstances. Physical or verbal abuse from an adult or peer can lead to severe depression in teenagers. Teenagers may also abuse themselves by using drugs or drinking too much alcohol. This abuse is generally signaled by an abrupt change in behavior. If you suspect that an adolescent you know is experiencing abuse, or if a teenager ever mentions committing suicide, tell someone you trust immediately.