RT Journal Article
T1 Positive Youth Development and Depression: An Examination of Gender Differences in Croatia and Spain
A1 Gómez Baya, Diego
A1 Babic Cikes, Ana
A1 Hirnstein, Marina
A1 Kurtović, Ana
A1 Vrdoljak, Gabrijela
A1 Wiium, Nora
AB Depression is a major public health issue and the literature has consistently showed thatthe rates of depression increase dramatically during youth transition to adulthood, andgender differences merge in this period. Positive youth development (PYD) framework isfocused on strengths that make young people more resistant to negative outcomes, likedepression, and more capable to choose a positive life direction. The aim of the studywas to examine the relationship between the 5Cs of PYD and depression in Croatiaand Spain, as well as to analyze gender differences. This research was conductedwithin the PYD Cross-National Project. High school and university students from EasternCroatia and Southern Spain participated in the study (Mage = 19.37, SD = 2.11; 62.3%female). There were 584 students from Croatia and 768 students from Spain, whofilled in self-reports of PYD and depression (i.e., PYD-SF and PHQ-9, respectively).Results showed that male participants presented more Competence and Confidence,while female participants reported more Connection, Caring, Character, overall PYD,but also more depressive symptoms. Furthermore, Confidence and Connection werenegative correlates of depressive symptoms, with neither Spain nor Croatia showingremarkable gender differences. These results may have some implications concerningthe promotion of the 5Cs of PYD as a recommendable approach to promote youthmental health in Croatia and Spain from a gender perspective. Youth mental healthservices and initiatives that engage the partnership of youth contexts, such as the family,schools and neighborhoods, should not only address risk factors for mental healthproblems, but also protecting factors as the 5Cs, thus providing a more inclusive andsustainable support for youth well-being
PB Frontiers Media
SN 1664-1078 (electrónico)
YR 2022
FD 2022-01
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10272/21191
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10272/21191
LA eng
NO Gomez-Baya, D., Babić Čikeš, A., Hirnstein, M., Kurtović, A., Vrdoljak, G., & Wiium, N. (2022). Positive Youth Development and Depression: An Examination of Gender Differences in Croatia and Spain. In Frontiers in Psychology (Vol. 12). Frontiers Media SA. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.689354
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 1 jun 2026