Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms and Associated Psychosocial Risk Factors among French University Students: the Moderating and Mediating Effects of Resilience

Abstract

University students constitute a higher risk population for mental health problems, especially for depression. Given the lack of literature addressing such issues in France, this study estimated the prevalence rates of depression, its sociodemographic correlates in French university students [FUS], and examined whether resilience resources moderated and mediated the relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Participants (N = 1435, Mage = 20.5) completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the Perceived Stress Scale, the Brief Resilience Scale, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Descriptive, multiple logistic regressions, and mediation analyses were used. With respect to the BDI-II's cutoff scores, 20.3% (95% CI: 18.3 to 22.4%) and 22.8% (95% CI: 20.7 to 25.0%) were positive to moderate and severe depression, respectively. Gender and education attainment appeared to be moderate risk factors when accounting for cumulative effect of perceived stress and resilience. Resilience buffered and partially mediated the perceived stress-depression relationship. In conclusion, the prevalence of depression was higher in FUS, as reported in previous studies. The amount of academic and daily stress explained this prevalence. University students with low resilience level were more at risk. Interventions aiming to improve resilience skills could help to mitigate the negative effects of stress and to promote mental health in this population.