Depression, Meaninglessness, and Substance Abuse in “Normal” and Hospitalized Adolescents

In a partial replication of the Harlow et al (1986) study, the relationships between depression, meaninglessness, suicide ideation, & substance abuse are examined in 2 samples of adolescents (48 high school students & 113 patients in 2 psychiatric hospitals). Correlational analyses indicated that the high school students who viewed themselves negatively, were depressed, or who had found little meaning in their lives were more likely to consider suicide & to abuse drugs. (20 refs.)