Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among International Postgraduate Students in a Uk University: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of DAS among postgraduate international students in the UK. The study aimed to determine in these students the prevalence, associated individual characteristics, life and academic challenges related to DAS and suicidal thoughts, and management strategies used by the affected students.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a large English university. Self-selected postgraduate international students, aged 20-50 years, participated through online and paper questionnaires. The World Health Organisation’s Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to indicate the presence of DAS. Additional open questions explored social and academic challenges, and coping strategies. Results: Amongst the 289 participants, 43% (n=123) presented with DAS and 12% (n=34) experienced suicidal thoughts. In the multivariate analysis, significant independent predictors (p≤0.05) were length of stay in the UK (>3 years) and studying in a certain faculty. Significant challenges associated with DAS included relationship issues, inadequate finances, homesickness, difficulty carrying out domestic chores, problem finding a community with shared cultural/religious values, change of climate, and perceived insufficient support from university staff. Coping strategies included talking to academic advisors/tutors, friends/family in the UK or their home country. Of all students with DAS and suicidal thoughts, 25% and 21%, respectively sought medical help, and 17% and 32% were on medication.Conclusion: International postgraduates had higher rates of DAS and suicidal thoughts than the UK population. A low percentage sought medical help, which has implications for service planning. A model of influencing factors is presented, requiring future studies.

Understanding suicidality and reasons for living amongst Doctoral Researchers: A thematic analysis of qualitative U‐DOC survey data

“…The experience of suicidal thoughts is extremely distressing and debilitating, irrespective of association with suicidal behaviour (Dodemaide & Crisp, 2013). Again research is limited, but suggests UK postgraduate research students experience greater suicidal thoughts than taught students (Ejim et al, 2021). The broader context is that, generally, DRs experience high rates of mental health problems, in excess of other students (Hazell et al, 2020;Levecque et al, 2017).…”