Objective: To study the prevalence of depression and its association with health risk behaviors among female adolescents.
Material and Method: The present study was of population-based cross-sectional survey design. The sample population was female adolescents aged 15 to 24 years old living in Kukot Municipal area in Pathumthani Province (n = 1,035). Measurements were as follows: (1) exposure - depression was assessed with the Center for Epidemiology Studies-Depression scale (CESD), and (2) outcome - health risk behaviors, including sexual risk behaviors and substance abuse/dependence (alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs) were assessed by Alcohol Use Identification Test (AUDIT) and Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). Multiple logistic regression was employed to determine associations between depression and health risk behaviors while controlling for confounding factors.
Results: The prevalence of depression in the sample was 17.49%. Nearly one fourth of the respondents (23.29%) reported having health risk behaviors. About 14% of the respondents had sexual risk behaviors and about 10% reported substance abuse/dependence. Depression was associated with an increased risk for any health risk behavior (OR = 1.73; 95% CI 1.16 to 2.59, p<0.05). Even after adjusting for confounding factors, the association remained significant (OR = 1.65; CI 1.11 to 2.45, p<0.05). Stratified analyses also showed that depression significantly increased the risk of such behaviors, particularly among those with single parents (OR = 3.46 95% CI 1.70 to 7.03).
Conclusion: Depression and health risk behaviors were common among female adolescents. Depression was independently associated with an increased risk of health risk behaviors. The risk was particularly predominant among those with single parents. The findings suggest that there is a need to develop health policy and service planning for identification and treatment of female adolescents at risk of common health risk behaviors.

Keywords: Depression, Health risk behaviors, Adolescents