Factors impacting depression severity among Turkish college students

Abstract

Turkish college students experience increased rates of depression (Bayram and Bilgel, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 43(8), 667–672, 2008). The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between demographic variables, perceived stress, dysfunctional attitudes, attribution style, and depression among Turkish college students. A hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the sequential effect of perceived stress, dysfunctional attitudes, attribution style on depression severity of Turkish college students. Overall, the model explained 42% of depression severity, which is considered a large effect size explaining factors contributing to depression among Turkish college students. The results indicated dysfunctional attitudes directly contributed depression severity among Turkish college students; however, attribution style may influence depression through perceived stress as well. Participants with negative and internal attribution styles might perceive a high level of stress as they might attribute problems to themselves leading a higher level of depression. Mental health professionals who are working with students may check dysfunctional attitudes, and the attribution style of students and provide insight regarding the cognitive aspect of depression.