Prevalence of psychological distress among undergraduate students at Jazan University: A cross-sectional study
Background: Undergraduate learning is a sensitive and challenging period for students and has been reported to result in high rates of psychological distress in them. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of psychological distress among undergraduate students at Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Saudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sjmms.net/article.asp?issn=1658-631X;year=2018;volume=6;issue=2;spage=82;epage=88;aulast=Hakami |
| _version_ | 1811269627076935680 |
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| author | Ramzi Mohammed Hakami |
| author_facet | Ramzi Mohammed Hakami |
| author_sort | Ramzi Mohammed Hakami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Undergraduate learning is a sensitive and challenging period for students and has been reported to result in high rates of psychological distress in them.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of psychological distress among undergraduate students at Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a stratified sample of 500 undergraduate students from five faculties at Jazan University. All participants completed an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire, which included questions about their sociodemographic details and a measuring scale of general psychological distress, the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18).
Results: A total of 450 students satisfactorily completed the questionnaire. Of these, 139 (30.9%) were screened positive for psychological distress based on the BSI-18 scale. Females scored significantly higher than males on the somatization (P = 0.002) and anxiety subscales (P = 0.006) as well as on the total symptom scale (the General Severity Index; P = 0.005). However, there was no significant difference between males and females regarding the depression subscale (P = 0.149). Twenty-eight students (6.2%) reported moderate to extreme levels of distress due to suicidal thoughts in the past 1 week before inclusion in this study.
Conclusions: This study found that ~31% of undergraduate students at Jazan University are psychologically distressed. This finding necessitates the need for rigorous efforts to develop proper screening and intervention programs targeting this population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:45:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ba10365442143b48ac5ba8b721f8880 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1658-631X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:45:34Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Saudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ba10365442143b48ac5ba8b721f88802022-12-22T03:15:38ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsSaudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences1658-631X2018-01-0162828810.4103/sjmms.sjmms_73_17Prevalence of psychological distress among undergraduate students at Jazan University: A cross-sectional studyRamzi Mohammed HakamiBackground: Undergraduate learning is a sensitive and challenging period for students and has been reported to result in high rates of psychological distress in them. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of psychological distress among undergraduate students at Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a stratified sample of 500 undergraduate students from five faculties at Jazan University. All participants completed an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire, which included questions about their sociodemographic details and a measuring scale of general psychological distress, the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18). Results: A total of 450 students satisfactorily completed the questionnaire. Of these, 139 (30.9%) were screened positive for psychological distress based on the BSI-18 scale. Females scored significantly higher than males on the somatization (P = 0.002) and anxiety subscales (P = 0.006) as well as on the total symptom scale (the General Severity Index; P = 0.005). However, there was no significant difference between males and females regarding the depression subscale (P = 0.149). Twenty-eight students (6.2%) reported moderate to extreme levels of distress due to suicidal thoughts in the past 1 week before inclusion in this study. Conclusions: This study found that ~31% of undergraduate students at Jazan University are psychologically distressed. This finding necessitates the need for rigorous efforts to develop proper screening and intervention programs targeting this population.http://www.sjmms.net/article.asp?issn=1658-631X;year=2018;volume=6;issue=2;spage=82;epage=88;aulast=HakamiBrief Symptom Inventory-18mental health problemspsychological distressSaudi Arabiaundergraduateuniversity students |
| spellingShingle | Ramzi Mohammed Hakami Prevalence of psychological distress among undergraduate students at Jazan University: A cross-sectional study Saudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences Brief Symptom Inventory-18 mental health problems psychological distress Saudi Arabia undergraduate university students |
| title | Prevalence of psychological distress among undergraduate students at Jazan University: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Prevalence of psychological distress among undergraduate students at Jazan University: A cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of psychological distress among undergraduate students at Jazan University: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of psychological distress among undergraduate students at Jazan University: A cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Prevalence of psychological distress among undergraduate students at Jazan University: A cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | prevalence of psychological distress among undergraduate students at jazan university a cross sectional study |
| topic | Brief Symptom Inventory-18 mental health problems psychological distress Saudi Arabia undergraduate university students |
| url | http://www.sjmms.net/article.asp?issn=1658-631X;year=2018;volume=6;issue=2;spage=82;epage=88;aulast=Hakami |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ramzimohammedhakami prevalenceofpsychologicaldistressamongundergraduatestudentsatjazanuniversityacrosssectionalstudy |