Articles
DOI DOI: 10.66434/ijssr.v1i1.465

Exploring factors triggering senior phase learners’ depression in high schools

Nokwanda Prisca Radebe

Abstract

Depression is a major public health concern among adolescents and particularly senior phase learners in Grades 7 and 9, as it disrupts their emotional well-being, learning, and long-term potential. This desktop study examines the circumstances leading to depression among senior phase learners in Thabo Mofutsanyane District schools. Adopting a desk-based approach, the study reviews secondary publications from 2015 to 2025, with Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory providing the framework. The study determines that depression is brought on primarily by four interlocking circumstances: school-based factors such as workload and bullying, home and family factors such as inadequate relationships and unsupportive parenting styles, the impact of long-term use of social media on self-esteem and sleeping habits, and socio-economic factors such as poverty, unemployment, and a lack of mental health services in rural areas. The study identifies a lack of adequate support in schools and recommends special intervention measures, including teacher training, parent involvement, anti-bullying campaigns, and improved mental health services to communities. By addressing the causes of depression, decision-makers and educationists can help reduce depression among learners and achieve healthier developmental outcomes in South African rural settings.

How to Cite

Radebe , N. P. (2026). Exploring factors triggering senior phase learners’ depression in high schools. International Journal of Studies in Systematic Reviews, 1(1), 30–38. https://doi.org/10.66434/ijssr.v1i1.465
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