scholarly journals Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms and Associated Psychosocial risk Factors among University Students: The Moderating and Mediating Effects of Resilience

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyrille Kossigan KOKOU KPOLOU ◽  
Askar Jumageldinov ◽  
Sunyoung Park ◽  
Nicolas Nieuviarts ◽  
Pari-Gole Noorishad ◽  
...  

<p><i>Background</i>: Previous studies have indicated that university students constitute a higher risk population for mental health problems, especially for depression. Yet, there appears to be a lack of literature addressing a such issues in France. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence rates of depression, its sociodemographic correlates in French university students (FUS), and to examine whether individual resilience resources moderated and mediated the relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms. </p> <p><i>Methods</i>: The data were collected through web-based questionnaires. The sample included 1435 FUS with a mean age of 20.5 (<i>SD </i>= 3.38) years. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the Perceived Stress Scale, the Brief Resilience Scale, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Descriptive, multiple logistic regression and mediation analyses were used. </p> <p><i>Results</i>: With respect to the BDI-II’s cutoff scores, 20.3% and 22.8% were positive to moderate and severe depression, respectively (43.1%). Gender and education attainment appeared as moderate risk factors when accounting for cumulative effect of perceived stress and individual resilience. Resilience was found to buffer and mediate partially the perceived stress–depression relationship. </p> <p><i>Conclusion</i>: The prevalence of depression was higher in FUS, as similar to those reported in</p> <p>previous studies. The amount of academic and daily stress explained this prevalence. University students with low resilience level were more at risk. Interventions with aim to improving resilience skills could help to mitigate the negative effects of stress and to promote mental health in this population.</p>

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyrille Kossigan KOKOU KPOLOU ◽  
Askar Jumageldinov ◽  
Sunyoung Park ◽  
Nicolas Nieuviarts ◽  
Pari-Gole Noorishad ◽  
...  

<p><i>Background</i>: Previous studies have indicated that university students constitute a higher risk population for mental health problems, especially for depression. Yet, there appears to be a lack of literature addressing a such issues in France. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence rates of depression, its sociodemographic correlates in French university students (FUS), and to examine whether individual resilience resources moderated and mediated the relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms. </p> <p><i>Methods</i>: The data were collected through web-based questionnaires. The sample included 1435 FUS with a mean age of 20.5 (<i>SD </i>= 3.38) years. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the Perceived Stress Scale, the Brief Resilience Scale, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Descriptive, multiple logistic regression and mediation analyses were used. </p> <p><i>Results</i>: With respect to the BDI-II’s cutoff scores, 20.3% and 22.8% were positive to moderate and severe depression, respectively (43.1%). Gender and education attainment appeared as moderate risk factors when accounting for cumulative effect of perceived stress and individual resilience. Resilience was found to buffer and mediate partially the perceived stress–depression relationship. </p> <p><i>Conclusion</i>: The prevalence of depression was higher in FUS, as similar to those reported in</p> <p>previous studies. The amount of academic and daily stress explained this prevalence. University students with low resilience level were more at risk. Interventions with aim to improving resilience skills could help to mitigate the negative effects of stress and to promote mental health in this population.</p>


Author(s):  
Thomas Volken ◽  
Annina Zysset ◽  
Simone Amendola ◽  
Anthony Klein Swormink ◽  
Marion Huber ◽  
...  

Background: COVID-19 containment measures and the uncertainties associated with the pandemic may have contributed to changes in mental health risks and mental health problems in university students. Due to the high burden of the disease, depression is of particular concern. However, knowledge about the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Swiss university students during the pandemic is limited. We therefore assessed the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their change during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large sample of Swiss university students. Methods: We assessed depressive symptoms in two cross-sectional cohorts of university students (n = 3571) in spring and autumn 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and compared them with a matched sample of the Swiss national population (n = 2328). Binary logistic regression models estimated prevalence with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Adjusted prevalence of depressive symptoms in female (30.8% (95% CI: 28.6–33.0)) and male students (24.8% (95% CI: 21.7–28.1)) was substantially higher than in the matching female (10.9% (95% CI: 8.9–13.2)) and male (8.5% (6.6–11.0)) pre-pandemic national population. Depressive symptoms in the two consecutive student cohorts did not significantly differ. Conclusions: More than a quarter of Swiss university students reported depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was substantially higher as compared to the matched general population. Universities should introduce measures to support students in such times of crisis and gain an understanding of the factors impacting mental health positively or negatively and related to university structures and procedures.


2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1999-2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. van der Waerden ◽  
C. Galéra ◽  
M.-J. Saurel-Cubizolles ◽  
A.-L. Sutter-Dallay ◽  
M. Melchior ◽  
...  

BackgroundMaternal depression in the pre- and postpartum period may set women on a course of chronic depressive symptoms. Little is known about predictors of persistently elevated depressive symptoms in mothers from pregnancy onwards. The aims of this study are to determine maternal depression trajectories from pregnancy to the child's fifth birthday and identify associated risk factors.MethodMothers (N = 1807) from the EDEN mother–child birth cohort study based in France (2003–2011) were followed from 24–28 weeks of pregnancy to their child's fifth birthday. Maternal depression trajectories were determined with a semi-parametric group-based modelling strategy. Sociodemographic, psychosocial and psychiatric predictors were explored for their association with trajectory class membership.ResultsFive trajectories of maternal symptoms of depression from pregnancy onwards were identified: no symptoms (60.2%); persistent intermediate-level depressive symptoms (25.2%); persistent high depressive symptoms (5.0%); high symptoms in pregnancy only (4.7%); high symptoms in the child's preschool period only (4.9%).Socio-demographic predictorsassociated with persistent depression were non-French origin;psychosocial predictorswere childhood adversities, life events during pregnancy and work overinvestment;psychiatric predictorswere previous mental health problems, psychological help, and high anxiety during pregnancy.ConclusionsPersistent depression in mothers of young children is associated to several risk factors present prior to or during pregnancy, notably anxiety. These characteristics precede depression trajectories and offer a possible entry point to enhance mother's mental health and reduce its burden on children.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ezgi Dogan-Sander ◽  
Elisabeth Kohls ◽  
Sabrina Baldofski ◽  
Christine Rummel-Kluge

Background: As the majority of studies examining mental health during the pandemic are cross-sectional, little is known about the changes in mental health during the pandemic, especially in university students. Most studies indicate a worsening of mental health conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the mental health status of German university students during the third wave of the pandemic in 2021 and to compare the results to a sample of a congruent cross-sectional study from 2020.Methods: Two cross-sectional and anonymous online surveys among university students were conducted (first survey: July-August 2020, N = 3,382; second survey: March-April 2021, N = 5,642). Mental health status was assessed with standardized measures (depressive symptoms, alcohol and drug consumption, and eating disorder symptoms), and social and emotional aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic were assessed. In addition to descriptive statistics and group comparisons of the two survey samples from 2020 and 2021, respectively, risk and protective factors related to mental health were analyzed.Results: There were significant differences in severities of depressive symptoms and alcohol and drug consumption between the two online surveys from 2020 and 2021. Findings suggest an increase in the severity of depressive symptoms as well as alcohol and drug consumption. Significantly more respondents reported suicidal ideation in the survey from 2021. Lower self-efficacy, less social support and lower resilience as well as higher perceived stress and more loneliness were reported by the participants of the survey from 2021 compared to 2020. Regarding factors predicting mental health symptoms, being female was a positive predictor for hazardous alcohol use and anorexia nervosa in comparison to men. Further, younger age, being diverse, higher perceived stress and loneliness were positive predictors for all mental health outcomes.Conclusion: This study reveals an increase in severities of depressive symptoms, including suicidal ideation, drug and alcohol consumption among students. Being diverse, younger age, higher perceived stress and loneliness were mutual risk factors for higher depressive and eating disorder symptoms as well as alcohol consumption. Universities and health care policy should recognize and address mental health issues of young adults during ongoing times of crisis and invest in easy-to-access interventions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 186-194
Author(s):  
Hacer BELEN

The novel Coronavirus pandemic caused strong negative emotions including fear, and stress and impacted the mental health of individuals worldwide. One of the emotions linked with mental health and infectious disease is self-blame regret. Thus, the current study investigated the role of fear of COVID-19 and perceived stress in the relationship between self-blame regret and depression. As a means of such investigation, the current research was conducted based on quantitative data and the research sample was recruited via a convenient sampling method. A community sample of 352 individuals in Turkey (71 % female and 29 % males), ranged between in age 18 and 63 (M= 28.90±8.90), completed Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and responded to one item concerning the self-blame regret. Results demonstrated that self-blame regret is positively correlated with fear of COVID-19, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms. Moreover, serial multiple mediation analyses demonstrated that both fear of COVID-19 and perceived stress mediated the relationship between self-blame regret and depression. The findings showed that self-blame regret, fear of COVID-19, and perceived stress are determinants of depressive symptoms, suggesting that such factors are important in understanding these issues.


2020 ◽  
pp. 002076402096602
Author(s):  
Héctor Badellino ◽  
María Emilia Gobbo ◽  
Eduardo Torres ◽  
María Emilia Aschieri

Background: On March 20 2020, the Argentine Ministry of Health enforced a mandatory quarantine throughout the country in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aims: The object of this study is to determine the initial impact on mental health of Argentine population, by measuring the prevalence of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and self-perceived stress and by determining the associated risk factors, and to analyze that impact in relation to the number of confirmed cases and deaths. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted through a digital questionnaire, which was completed by 1,985 respondents between March 29 and April 12. The prevalence of anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia was measured with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale (GAD-7), the 9-Item Patients Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9); the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. Results: The 62.4% of the surveyed population reported signs of psychological distress. It was found that being a woman, being 18 to 27 years old, living with family members or a partner, smoking, and having a poor sleep quality were the significant risk factors. Conclusion: Despite the low number of COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths at that time, a strong impact on mental health indicators was revealed. The authors of this study recommend the monitoring of the population at risk over time and early interventions in order to avoid long-lasting mental health problems.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bangfang Wang ◽  
Jianjun Sun ◽  
Feng Gao ◽  
Jun Chen ◽  
Lei Shi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: We investigate the mental health status of all the staff members who worked for the designated hospital during the initial stage of COVID-19, so as to understand the severity of mental health problems, and analyze the risk factors.Methods: Through the patients health questionnaire-9(PHQ-9) and panic disorder severity scales(PDSS), we surveyed the status of depression and panic disorder of the staff who participated in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in designated hospital in the early stage of epidemic. The data is described by the number of cases (percentage), median and interquartile range. The chi square test was used for categorical variables and the rank sum test was used for continuous variables. The risk factors of severe depression or panic disorder were analyzed by binary logistic regression test.Results: Totally 702 questionnaires were sent out and 694(98.9%) was received and qualified, the median score of PHQ-9 among all the staff was 1 (IQR,0-4), 143(20.6%) of them had depression, 39 (5.6%) had serious depression; the median score of PDSS was 2 (IQR,0-5), 81 (11.7%) of them had panic disorder and 47(6.7%) of them had severe panic disorder; Among the people in different work lines, the first-line staff scored the highest: PHQ-9 score was 4 (0-8); PDSS score was 4 (1-9), which were significantly higher than the second-line and third-line staff (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the adjusted risk of severe depression in first-line staff was 6.63 fold(P < 0.001); the risk of severe panic disorder was 2.62 fold (P=0.003) higher than that of non-first line group.Conclusions: Many staff in the designated hospital for COVID-19 have mental health problems. Among them, first-line workers are a high-risk group with severe depression and panic disorder, and further psychological intervention is needed for them.


Author(s):  
Daniel W. Klyce ◽  
James C. Jackson

Survivors of critical illness frequently have significant and persistent mental health problems, which may develop or worsen following intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Chief among these problems is depression, which occurs in approximately a third of all individuals after critical illness and is associated with a wide array of untoward outcomes. Depression is manifest in a diversity of ways and risk factors may contribute to significant depressive symptoms after critical. Questions persist about whether treatment of depression after critical illness is most effective using conventional approaches or whether the depressive symptoms observed in ICU survivors may be clinically distinct and may optimally respond to carefully tailored innovative approaches. One promising strategy for managing the mental health needs of patients after critical illness involves ICU recovery clinics, which target the unique constellation of cognitive, psychiatric, and functional challenges common to survivors of critical illness.


Author(s):  
Mohammed A. Mamun ◽  
Md. Sharif Hossain ◽  
Mark D. Griffiths

Abstract Common mental health problems are regarded as public health concerns and can contribute to risky behaviors such as suicide among university students in extreme cases. However, there is a lack of studies concerning such issues in Bangladesh. The present study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by investigating the prevalence and associated risk predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress among Bangladeshi university students. The sample comprised 590 undergraduates attending Jahangirnagar University (Dhaka, Bangladesh) who completed an offline survey including sociodemographic questions, behavioral variables, and the 21-item Bangla Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (BDASS-21). The prevalence of moderate to the extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress was 52.2%, 58.1%, and 24.9%, respectively. There were no significant gender differences in depression, anxiety, and stress. Risk factors for depression included coming from a lower class family, being a cigarette smoker, and engaging in less physical exercise. Risk factors for anxiety and stress included being engaged in a relationship. The findings need to be further replicated among other Bangladeshi university students to help in the development of better intervention programs and appropriate support services targeting this vulnerable group including a focus of suicide prevention and awareness.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Mitiku Teshome Hambisa ◽  
Andualem Derese ◽  
Tilahun Abdeta

Background. The prevalence of mental health problems including depression is increasing in severity and number among higher institution students, and it has a lot of negative consequences like poor academic performance and committing suicide. Identifying the prevalence and associated factors of mental illness among higher institution students is important in order to administer appropriate preventions and interventions. In Ethiopia, only a few studies tried to report associated factors of depression among university students. Objective. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among Haramaya University students, Ethiopia. Methods. Institution-based, cross-sectional study design was conducted among 1040 students. A standard, self-administered questionnaire was used to get data from a sample of randomly selected 1040 undergraduate university students using a multistage systematic random sampling technique. The questionnaire used was the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scale which is a self-report 21-item scale that is used to assess the presence of depressive symptoms. All 21 items are rated on a three-point scale (0 to 3). Each question is scored on a 0 to 3 scale, and total scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores reflecting greater levels of depressive symptoms. The questionnaire has been well validated as a measure of depressive symptomatology with scores 1-13 indicating minimal depressive symptoms, 14-19 showing mild depressive symptoms, 20-28 showing moderate depressive symptoms, and 29-63 indicating severe depressive symptoms. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables independently associated with depressive symptoms after we dichotomized the depressive symptoms screening tool to “yes/no” depressive symptoms. This means students who did not report any depressive symptoms were given “no” depressive symptoms and who reported at least one (≥1) depressive symptoms were given “yes” (depressive symptoms). Results. A total of 1022 (98.3%) out of 1040 students participated in this study. The mean age of participants was 20.9 years (SD±2.17), and the majority of them (76.0%) were male students. Prevalence of depressive symptoms among undergraduate students was 26.8% (95% CI: 24.84, 28.76). Among those who had reported depressive symptoms: 10%, 12%, 4%, and 1% of students reported minimal, mild, moderate, and severe depressive symptoms, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis in the final model revealed that being a first-year student (AOR 6.99, 95% CI: 2.31, 21.15, p value < 0.001), being a second-year student (AOR 6.25, 95% CI: 2.05, 19.07, p value < 0.001), and being a third-year student (AOR 3.85, 95% CI: 1.26, 11.78, p value < 0.018) and being divorced/widowed (AOR 5.91, 95% CI: 1.31, 26.72, p value < 0.021), current drinking alcohol (AOR 2.53, 95% CI: 1.72,3.72, p value < 0.001), current smoking cigarettes (AOR 1.71, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.86, p value < 0.042), and current use of illicit substances (AOR 2.20, 95% CI: 1.26, 3.85, p value < 0.006) were independently associated with depressive symptoms. Having no religion and currently chewing Khat were statistically significantly associated with depressive symptoms in the binary logistic regression analysis but not in the final model. Conclusions. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among university students in this study is high relative to the general population. Sociodemographic factors year of study and current substance use were identified as associated factors of depressive symptoms. Recommendations. This finding suggests the need for the provision of mental health services at the university, including screening, counseling, and effective treatment. Families need to closely follow their students’ health status by having good communication with the universities, and they have to play their great role in preventing depression and providing appropriate treatment as needed. The governments and policy-makers should stand with universities by supporting and establishing matured policies which helps universities to have mental health service centers. Generally, the university and other stakeholders should consider these identified associated factors for prevention and control of mental health problems of university students.


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