Effectiveness of Interpersonal Therapy on Depression among Adolescents in Selected Public Mixed Day and Boarding Secondary Schools in Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) on depression among adolescents in selected Public Mixed Day and Boarding Secondary schools in Makueni County, Kenya. The study was informed by interpersonal theory and choice theory. Multiple time-series design was used. A sample size of 84 adolescents in forms1, 2 and 3, aged 14 to 19years was used, with 42 participants assigned to the experiment group and 42 the control group. The experimental group was exposed to 8 sessions of IPT treatment while the control group continued with treatment as usual during the study period. The demographic characteristics of the participants were collected using a socio demographic questionnaire. Beck’s Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) were the main tools used. Analysis of variance was done for data collected at baseline, midline and end line. The data revealed a general prevalence of depression at (58.9%). Depression was significantly high among the females and the form three participants (p = 0.000). Severity of depression was significant among the females as compared to the males (p = 0.000). Being day scholars, and whom the participant lived with were found to be risk factors to depression. A positive correlation at 2 tailed was found to exist between depression and PTSD (r = .336**; p = 0.000). The findings of this study showed that IPT was effective in treating depression among adolescents. Based on the findings, IPT was recommended in management of depression and improvement of mental health in adolescents in secondary school.