Abstract
Depression is commonly observed in university students, who are a high risk group for developing psychiatric disorders during adulthood. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and its traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions and psychological determinants among university students in Malaysia. A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted between 9 and 28 September 2020 among 80 university students in Malaysia. Participants completed online survey questionnaires, including the validated Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CMCQ), Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) stress subscale, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), which assess depression, body constitution, dysfunctional attitude, stress, perceived stress, and self-esteem. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the associated risk factors for depression. The overall prevalence of depression among university students was 33.8%. The multiple regression analysis showed a significant relationship between depression and qi-stagnation constitution (B = 0.089, p = 0.011), balanced constitution (B = −0.077, p = 0.049), and self-esteem (B = −0.325, p = 0.001). Our findings suggest that some traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions and self-esteem are significant risk factors affecting depression among university students. Identifying risk factors of depression is vital to aid in the early detection of depression among university students.
Highlights
Depression is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease [1,2]
The prevalence rate of depression in this study was higher than in previous similar research conducted among university students in public and private universities in the Klang Valley [8,9,10,11], which ranged between 21.0% and 30.0%
Given the current COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Malaysia, the increase in depression might due to changes in daily lifestyles [74]
Summary
Depression is estimated to affect 264 million people of all ages worldwide [3]. Depression often develops at a young age; such a disorder can affect people’s functioning and is often recurring [1]. Depressive symptoms include persistent sadness, loss of interest, decreased concentration or energy, disturbed appetite or sleep, and strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt [4]. These symptoms are recurring and can interfere with a person’s ability to take care of their everyday responsibilities [1]. People who are depressed are more vulnerable to cardiovascular disease [5,6]. Depression can increase a person’s risk of suicide [1]
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