Factors Associated with Depression among University Students in Malaysia: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Depression causes mental health problem among young group especially university students due to stress resulted from studies and independent living. Depression can cause disability and even mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and the factors influencing depression among university students in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study involved 1,023 university students (response rate 90.4%). Depression was assessed using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Short Depression Scale (CESD -10). Binary logistic regression was used to determine predictors of depression based on sociodemographic, physiological, lifestyle, and health characteristics. Approximately 30% respondents experienced depression, which included 4.4% of severe depression. The risk of depression was 2.52 times higher (95% CI: 1.71-3.71) in second year students compared to first year students, and 1.63 times higher (95% CI: 1.08-2.45) in students staying outside campus compared to students staying inside campus. Students from poor, not well-off, and quite well-off family background had 15.26 (95% CI: 2.77-84.88), 4.85 (95% CI: 1.01-23.34) and 5.62 times (95% CI: 1.16-27.25) higher chance for depression than wealthier students, respectively. Students with mild, moderate, and severe sleeping problem were 2.50 times (95% CI: 1.61-3.88), 3.34 times (95% CI: 2.18-5.11), and 3.66 times (95% CI:1. 93 -6. 94) more likely to be depressed than those without sleeping problem, respectively. Students with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were 1.42 times higher (95% CI: 1.07-2.56) to suffer from depression. Higher institution need to pay special attention to students especially those in their second year, living off campus, from lower economic status, with sleeping problem, and with PTSD.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitutions and Psychological Determinants of Depression among University Students in Malaysia: A Pilot Study

“…The prevalence rate of depression among university students was 33.8%; among them, females have been shown to have a high risk of depression. The prevalence rate of depression in this study was higher than in previous similar research conducted among university students in public and private universities in the Klang Valley [8][9][10][11], which ranged between 21.0% and 30.0%. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Malaysia, the increase in depression might due to changes in daily lifestyles [74].…”

“…University students are a high at-risk group for developing depression and suicidal ideation [7]. The prevalence of depression among university students in Malaysia is relatively high and alarming, which has been found to be between 14.0% to 30.7% in past studies [8][9][10][11][12][13]. Studies conducted among universities in urban areas such as Klang Valley (between 27.5% to 29.3%) [8,9] and Melacca (30.7%) [12] had higher prevalence rates of depression compared with studies conducted in a rural area like Sarawak (14.0%) [13].…”

Prevalence and factors associated to depression among Debrebirhan University students: a cross-sectional study

“…Another factor associated with depression in multivariate analysis is academic year when compared to second year students those who are fourth year and above are less likely to get depressed by 76.4% AOR=0.236[0.059-0.936] . This is similar to studies at at Ambo [18] and at Malaysia [22]. This could be due to those who are senior students are more likely to get adapt university and has more coping mechanism whereas Probably second year students have yet to experience study di culties and stress as the course progresses in later years.…”

“…Higher gure when compared to study at universities outside Ethiopia like at Malaysia 30% respondents experienced depression [22] , at Pakistan the depression prevalence was found to be 53.43 % [ 21], but comparable to study at France university 16.4% [19] and lower compared to study at Quebec 13 % [20].…”

“…[2].Globally, studies conducted on different samples of undergraduate students have identi ed a moderate to high prevalence of depression in this population. [7][8][9][10][11] Globally, studies conducted on different samples of undergraduate students have identi ed a moderate to high prevalence of depression in this population [18][19][20][21][22][23]. Early diagnosis and management of psychological distress lead to better management and patient outcomes [24].…”