A Systematic Review of Factors Related to Depression Among Out-of-School Adolescents
AUTHOR : 박지은, 박종효
INFORMATION : page. 111~127 / 2025 Vol.32 No.4
ABSTRACT
This study examines a systematic literature review to identify factors related to depression among out-of-school adolescents in South Korea. A total of 33 peer-reviewed journal articles and master’s and doctoral theses published between 2011 and August 2025 were analyzed in accordance with PRISMA(Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Based on ecological systems theory, variables were categorized into individual, microsystem, exosystem, and macrosystem levels. Among the 101 identified variables, those at the individual and microsystem levels appeared most frequently. Major protective factors included self-esteem, resilience, parental and peer attachment, and social support, whereas social stigma, parental neglect and abuse, smartphone overdependence, and career barriers were identified as risk factors. Notably, social stigma emerged consistently across nineteen studies as a key risk variables. These findings suggest that depression in out-of-school adolescents results from the complex interplay of multilayered factors, including individual psychological characteristics, family and peer relationships, community contexts, and broader social stigmas.