Risk Factors for Depression Among College Students

Introduction

At a moment when psychotherapists, activists, and public-health organizations report cases of severe worry, pressure, and depression amongst university students. Since these problems develop from linked illnesses, including mood and schizophrenia, it is essential looking into the reasons for this epidemic. College students are now more likely than the wider populace to experience depression, a widespread problem in recent decades. The significant incidence of depression in college students can be overlooked, according to growing literature on the subject. There is a lot of anxiety and adjustment during the move from high school to college. It is a crucial time for the transition from late teenage years to adulthood, or early adulthood, which is conceptually and empirically unique from young adulthood and adolescent years. The health issues of depression in college students are covered in this essay.

The papers reviewed were obtained from databases like PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cityscape, BMC Public Health, and Oxford Academic using the keywords “college students, depression, mental health, and psychological well-being.”

Table of Reviewed papers

Literature Review

According to Kumaraswamy (2013), tension, anxiety, and depression are significant issues for university students. The study found that every country has made considerable educational expenditures. Despite this, a survey of students found that at least 10% suffer from psychological issues like anxiety and despair. More than 30 years of research on psychiatric problems served as the basis for the study. The main focus was the type of pressure, such as depressive symptomatology and mental health difficulties among university students. In addition to suggesting safety precautions like establishing counseling centers and adopting a mandated mentor program in all colleges and universities, the following illustrates that counseling may be used to help students suffering from mental concerns. Creating health panels headed by mental health professionals is the original study’s other proposal.

The research was launched by Roosa et al. (2015) to look into instances of anxiousness among math students. The study measured measures of habitual and state worry. They noted many other studies’ findings, which indicated a slight variation among state and trait measurements. According to the study, academic self-concept has a minimal impact on disparities. The results demonstrated that when the state evaluation reflected the actual experiences of pupils, there was less disagreement when self-concept levels were more significant. According to the findings, good students who had “ the ability were much more vulnerable. It was related to the likelihood that good students underestimated their vulnerability to stress, anxiety, and depression.

At least 70% of citizens of the United States report having daily mild – to – moderate stress and anxiety, according to Julian, L. J. (2011). While anxiety is a normal part of life, the study found it’s more apparent and common among university students. In addition to anxiety, stress and despair were also discovered to significantly influence college students, and a further detailed investigation was advised to help students in the long run. At least 10% of American college students had their depression evaluated and treated in the previous year, according to the study. Despite this, barely 50% of Americans who suffer from depression receive the necessary care.

The research study demonstrated the significance of academics in students’ lives. High academic achievement necessitates the development of a positive attitude, which is severely undermined by stress, depression, and anxiety. Academic pressures, including exams, good quality standards, required reading lists, and timekeeping, are blamed for the abovementioned health issues. Although academically is often viewed as a beneficial concept that improves learning ability and competence, on the flip side, it may also lead to stress, which could have a detrimental effect on the person’s mental health.

Conclusion

The study’s findings showed a strong relationship between the three concepts of worry, anxiety, and tension that are present in college students. The study looked at 19 potential sources of depression. The findings showed that the top ten worries were really the urge to succeed, educational achievement, post-graduation plans, financial worries, sleep quality, friendships, family bonds, connections, healthcare, personality, and self-image. It is highly improbable that pupils can put their worries to rest. However, the findings suggest several initiatives that could be used to resolve problems, like better study habits and more thorough job searches. The results indicated that worries about finances are caused mainly by the high expenditures of attending college. The other issues were directly related to life’s interpersonal and personal facets. Higher classmen showed excessive amounts of the constructions as well. Many colleges include programs designed to assist seniors in getting ready for graduate studies and programs to help freshmen adjust to their new surroundings. Colleges still need to have programs that can help freshmen prepare for their senior years to lessen the severity of the three constructions.

References

Julian, L. J. (2011). Measures of Anxiety. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken), 1-10.

Kumaraswamy, N. (2013). Academic Stress, Anxiety, and Depression among College Students- A Brief Review. International Review of Social Sciences and Humanities, 135-143.

Liu, X. Q., Guo, Y. X., Zhang, W. J., & Gao, W. J. (2022). Influencing factors, prediction, and prevention of depression in college students: A literature review. World Journal of Psychiatry, 12(7), 860.

Roosa, A.-L., Bieg, M., T.Goetz, A.C.Frenzel, J.Taxer, & M.Zeidner. (2015). Experiencing more mathematics anxiety than expected? Contrasting trait and state anxiety in high achieving students. High Ability Studies, 245–258.

Saha, S., Okafor, H., Biediger-Friedman, L., & Behnke, A. (2021). Association between diet and symptoms of anxiety and depression in college students: A systematic review. Journal of American college health, 1-11.