These events may lead to low morale in the children, which in turn, leads to depressive symptoms. .
When a negative event happens in a child's life and they can do nothing about it, the child learns that he/she cannot really do anything about negative events in their life. Learned Helplessness is "when individuals are exposed to negative experiences, such as prolonged stress or pain, over which they have no control" (Santrock, 1998). This definition has been reformed and changed a few times, but the general principle stays the same. When children learn that they can do nothing about their individual situation, this helplessness can grow to include all situations and they more likely to become depressed. Therefore, whenever anything bad happens, the child knows he/she cannot do anything to fix or change it. The same is true for good situations. The child believes that the good situation must have been some kind of accident or that they had nothing to do with it, even if they did. These feelings of helplessness can cause depressive symptoms and behaviors in children.
Another factor that may play a role in depression in children is genetics or biology. In Shahnour Yaylayan's (1991) study of the biology of depression in children, the preliminary findings where mixed. Direct comparisons with adults, adolescents, and children in single protocols are unavailable. Further studies were necessary to define the biology of depression in children, to determine its degree of similarity to adults with depression, and to translate the findings into an understanding of the neurochemical and neurological pathology of depression. Other studies have focused on cortisol hypersecretion, sensitivity in the dexamethasone suppression test (DST), growth hormone secretion, neurotransmitter metabolites, and thyroid-stimulating hormone response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone. .
Treatment for depression in children varies according to each case.