Violence and Depression Among Adolescent Boys in Soweto, South Africa, 2020‒2023.

Abstract

Objectives. To identify if violence is associated with adolescent depression by leveraging data from a longitudinal, repeated measures study among adolescent boys from an underrepresented context. Methods. South African adolescent boys (n = 498) enrolled between 2020 and 2023. Participants reported lifetime violence exposure and depression symptoms at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Over the study year, participants reported past-week violence exposure and past-24-hour psychological distress in weekly mobile surveys. We used 4 sets of longitudinal analyses to test associations between violence and depression symptoms, examining the influence of violence type and timing. Results. Participants reported high levels of violence and distress. Lifetime violence exposure was associated with increased distress over the study year. Ongoing, cumulative exposure to violence was associated with distress over time and depression at follow-up. Past-week victimization was associated with immediate increases in distress. Emotional victimization demonstrated particularly strong associations with mental health. Conclusions. We found evidence of a relationship between violence exposure and depression in adolescent boys. Multilayered interventions to reduce violence in the lives of boys and young men are necessary to address the mental health crisis. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print July 3, 2025:e1-e9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308164).