Prevalence of depression among students at a Sri Lankan University: A study using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) during the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract Background The prevalence of mental health disorders is known to be high among university students globally. Currently there are only a few studies on depression among university students in Sri Lanka. The aim of this study was to screen for the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15427-y |
| _version_ | 1827982519745642496 |
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| author | Ayanthi Wickramasinghe Birgitta Essén Rajendra Surenthirakumaran Pia Axemo |
| author_facet | Ayanthi Wickramasinghe Birgitta Essén Rajendra Surenthirakumaran Pia Axemo |
| author_sort | Ayanthi Wickramasinghe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The prevalence of mental health disorders is known to be high among university students globally. Currently there are only a few studies on depression among university students in Sri Lanka. The aim of this study was to screen for the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and other forms of depression, and to evaluate the factors associated with MDD. Methods A cross sectional survey using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was conducted among 637, second-year students from the faculties of Management Studies & Commerce, Science and Medicine at the University of Jaffna, during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Bivariate associations were assessed using chi-squared tests. Logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with any type of ragging. Results MDD was considered to have been experienced by 31% of the students. From all three faculties, 70% of the students claimed to have experienced some form of depression ranging from mild to severe. The factor associated with MDD was the students’ ethnicity. Conclusion Due to the high MDD risk among university students, it is imperative to develop psychosocial interventions to ensure early detection of mental health disorders and provide adequate support to safeguard this vulnerable population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:34:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d1ad8a10a6314b4c83a7623782385d1b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:34:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d1ad8a10a6314b4c83a7623782385d1b2023-03-22T12:35:42ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-03-012311910.1186/s12889-023-15427-yPrevalence of depression among students at a Sri Lankan University: A study using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) during the COVID-19 pandemicAyanthi Wickramasinghe0Birgitta Essén1Rajendra Surenthirakumaran2Pia Axemo3Department of Women and Children’s Health, International Maternal and Child Health unit (IMCH), Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Women and Children’s Health, International Maternal and Child Health unit (IMCH), Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of JaffnaDepartment of Women and Children’s Health, International Maternal and Child Health unit (IMCH), Uppsala UniversityAbstract Background The prevalence of mental health disorders is known to be high among university students globally. Currently there are only a few studies on depression among university students in Sri Lanka. The aim of this study was to screen for the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and other forms of depression, and to evaluate the factors associated with MDD. Methods A cross sectional survey using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was conducted among 637, second-year students from the faculties of Management Studies & Commerce, Science and Medicine at the University of Jaffna, during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Bivariate associations were assessed using chi-squared tests. Logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with any type of ragging. Results MDD was considered to have been experienced by 31% of the students. From all three faculties, 70% of the students claimed to have experienced some form of depression ranging from mild to severe. The factor associated with MDD was the students’ ethnicity. Conclusion Due to the high MDD risk among university students, it is imperative to develop psychosocial interventions to ensure early detection of mental health disorders and provide adequate support to safeguard this vulnerable population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15427-yMajor depressive disorderMental healthPHQ-9University studentsSouth AsiaPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Ayanthi Wickramasinghe Birgitta Essén Rajendra Surenthirakumaran Pia Axemo Prevalence of depression among students at a Sri Lankan University: A study using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) during the COVID-19 pandemic BMC Public Health Major depressive disorder Mental health PHQ-9 University students South Asia Public health |
| title | Prevalence of depression among students at a Sri Lankan University: A study using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Prevalence of depression among students at a Sri Lankan University: A study using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of depression among students at a Sri Lankan University: A study using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of depression among students at a Sri Lankan University: A study using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Prevalence of depression among students at a Sri Lankan University: A study using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | prevalence of depression among students at a sri lankan university a study using the patient health questionnaire 9 phq 9 during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | Major depressive disorder Mental health PHQ-9 University students South Asia Public health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15427-y |
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