Depressive Symptoms and Somatic Complaints Among Zambian Adolescents: Associations With Stress and Coping Angela L. Neese University of Indianapolis School of Medicine Laura D. Pittman Northern Illinois University Rebecca Hunemorder University of Indianapolis This study explored the possible links between perceived stress, coping strategies, depression, and somatic complaints, which have often been supported in other populations, in a school-based sample of Zambian adolescents ages 11–19 years (N = 230; 60% males). Zambian adolescents reported elevated levels of depressive symptoms and somatic complaints, suggesting a need to study this population further. Like previous studies, perceived stress was found to be positively associated with both depressive symptoms and somatic complaints. Unexpectedly, coping was found to be positively associated with depressive symptoms, perhaps because of the cross-sectional nature of the design. The possi- ble influence of culture on the findings (e.g., construct validity, difference in how coping functions adaptively) is discussed. Rates of depression and suicide among adolescents are a worldwide social problem, with adolescents in developing countries possessing many risk fac- tors that may lead to mental health issues (Patel, Abas, Broadhead, Todd, & Reeler, 2001; World Health Organization [WHO], 2004, 2010). In Wes- tern cultures, adolescence is a period of increasing levels of depression, especially among girls (e.g., Hankin et al., 1998). Major depression has also been found to be more prevalent among Nige- rian adolescent girls compared with boys, although no age differences emerged (Adewuya, Ola, & Aloba, 2007). While depression prevalence data specific to Zambian adolescents are limited, the WHO (2004) has reported high endorsement of items related to internalizing symptoms including feeling lonely, feeling worried, and considering sui- cide (24%–32%). Depression may also manifest itself through somatic complaints in collectivistic cultures such as is found in Zambia (Arnett, 2007; Broadhead & Abas, 1998; Fenta, Hyman, Rourke, Moon, & Noh, 2010). Stressful life events have been linked to adjustment difficulties, but coping strate- gies have been found to sometimes buffer the risk associated with stress (e.g., Compas, Conner-Smith, Saltzman, Thomsen, & Wadsworth, 2001; Kessler, 1997). The current study examined associations between stressful life events, depressive symptoms and somatic complaints, and coping in a Zambian adolescent sample. Zambian History and Culture Zambia is a sub-Saharan, land-locked, African country with a population of 12.6 million (WHO, 2010). The WHO (2010) estimated that 15% of indi- viduals over the age of 15 are living with HIV/ AIDS, and 20% of Zambian children under the age of 19 have experienced the death of both parents (Arnett, 2007). The country is also impacted greatly by extreme poverty (e.g., in 2006, the average fam- ily income was 20 U.S. dollars) and limited or unreliable access to resources (Central Statistics Office of Zambia, 2012). Previously known as Northern Rhodesia, Zambia was a British colony until 1964, when the country gained its indepen- dence. Two of the country’s nine provinces are predominantly urban, with the remaining prov- inces being rural. Numerous tribal groups make up the population, but little conflict occurs between communities (Colson, 2006). Although a wide vari- ety of languages and dialects exist, Zambia’s official national language is English. The collective nature of Zambian society empha- sizes taking responsibility for others over oneself Requests for reprints should be sent to Angela L. Neese, University of Indianapolis School of Medicine, 3920 Rue Cezanne, Indianapolis, IN 46220. E-mail: aneese.phd@gmail.com © 2013 The Authors Journal of Research on Adolescence © 2013 Society for Research on Adolescence DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-7795.2012.00834.x JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE, 23(1), 118–127