by Serena Inzani
This literature review is split into 4 parts. Firstly, the rates of depression in adolescence is explored, as well as when the differences in gender begin to emerge. Following this, a variety of factors are investigated to explain the gender gap and occurrence of depressive symptoms at this particular age point. Thirdly, various models are evaluated to see how cognitive, social, and biological factors all contribute to adolescence mental health, and how these models explain the elevated female risk of depression. Finally questions from the Millennium Cohort Study questionnaires have been grouped together and linked to the relevant sections of this literature review. The full references for the in-text citations are found at the end of the document.