Prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms and correlates of depressive symptoms among college students on Jeju Island in Korea

Abstract

Objectives： The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms, and the correlates of depressive symptoms, and to propose countermeasures for individual depression risk factors among college students.Methods： One university and three colleges in Jeju-do were selected as the study population and a total of 1000 students were selected by multiphasic cluster sampling to represent each department and year within each college. Of the 945 total respondents, 421 were men and 524 were women. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to evaluate depression and the BDI STEN score was used to assess depressive symptoms. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed for comparisons.Results： The prevalence of depression among male and female students was comparable, at 9.3% and 9.8%, respectively. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among men was 14.4%, while among women the level rose to 26.8%. Tliose with poor life satisfaction scores were significantly more likely to have depressive symptoms than those with good life satisfaction (odds ratio (OR) = 2.62; (95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.483-4.629). Students over 23 years old were significantly less likely to have low depressive symptoms than those under 18 (OR = 0.439; 95% Cl, 0.247-0.779). Groups with poor body image satisfaction were significantly more likely to have depressive symptoms when compared to respondents who had good body image (OR = 2.847; 95% CI, 1.341-6.045). Students with poor perceived health status were significantly more likely to have depressive symptoms than those with good perceived health status (OR = 2.029; 95%CI, 1.157-3.557).Conclusion： In conclusion, universities and colleges should provide education programs, such as health education that facilitates the development of a healthy body image. In addition, they should focus on various scholarships that could improve satisfaction with student life, especially for alienated students. Furthermore, colleges should help direct students towards engagement in more productive work, and lead social policies away from the dominance of appearance.