Depressive Symptoms and Coping Strategies among University Students: A Cross-sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2025.v16i03.001Abstract
Background: Adjusting to life on campus and attending a university course for the first time might be challenging for university students. Students who are having difficulties adjusting to college life are more likely to experience depressive symptoms. The detrimental impacts of depression on college students have drawn attention from across the world. The study investigated the prevalence of depressive symptoms and coping strategies among university students in a private healthcare university in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Methods: This study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey design. A total of 293 participants were recruited from a private healthcare university using convenient sampling. The sample size was determined using a sample size calculator, ensuring a confidence interval of 95% with a 5% margin of error. Data was collected through self-administered survey questionnaires comprising the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and brief COPE scales. Data were analysed using SPSS software version 26.0. Descriptive statistics and chi-square were applied to analyse and summarise the data. Results: According to the findings of the study, 71.6% of students reported having depressed symptoms overall. Furthermore, 17.4% of university students reported having borderline depressed symptoms, and 47.1% reported having moderate depressive symptoms. Additionally, the results showed that 6.1% and 1.0%, respectively, had severe and extreme depression symptoms. When it came to depressive symptoms, male students scored higher (74.8%) than female students (69.7%). Emotion-focused coping (positive reframing 6.38±1.12) was the most frequently used, followed by problem-focused coping (active coping 6.26±1.11). Also, 48.92% of the students employed adaptive coping strategies, whereas 35.21% employed maladaptive ones. Conclusion: Among students in higher education, depression symptoms are very common. The results may be used to develop staff and student awareness campaigns and mental health awareness programs that will lessen the effects of depression and improve university students' quality of life.
Keywords:
College Students, Depression, Depressive Symptoms, Mental Health, Psychology, University StudentsDownloads
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