Depressive Symptoms among Undergraduate Nursing Students in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2025.v17i01.001Abstract
Background: Depressive symptoms and depression are mental disorders that often occur in the world, including in university students, such as in nursing. There are still limited studies on Depressive symptoms among undergraduate nursing students in Indonesia. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and examine demographic characteristics relationship of depressive symptoms in undergraduate nursing students in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Methods: The design of the present study was descriptive. The sample size was 385 nursing students and a simple random sampling was applied to recruit respondents. The instrument was the Indonesian version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised (CESD-R). Data was collected from March to May 2024 using a Google form. The data analysis used included frequency, percentage, and Chi-square test. Results: This study found that the highest proportion was aged 17-20 years (60.3%) with a mean age of 20.1 ± 1.39 years in the first academic year (30.6%), women (91.4%), Muslims (54.8%), and Toba ethnic (48.6). The mean score was 20.36 ± 16.52, and more nursing students indicated no depression disorder (58.4%) than depression disorder (41.6%). The study found no relationship between depressive symptoms and demographic characteristics (age, academic year, and gender) with a p-value > 0.05. Conclusion: The present study shows that the prevalence of depressive symptoms among undergraduate nursing students at the university tends to be high. Therefore, students need to be given education and practice on how to deal with stress and the potential for depression and provide health assistance when students need it.
Keywords:
Depression, Depressive symptoms, Depression disorder, Nursing studentDownloads
References
Aggarwal, R., & Ranganathan, P. (2019). Study designs: Part 2 - descriptive studies. Perspectives in Clinical Research, 10(1), 34–36. https://doi.org/10.4103/picr.PICR_154_18
Alreshidi, S., Rayani, A., Aboshaiqah, A., Aljaloud, A., Ghulman, S., & Alotibi, A. (2024). Prevalence and associations of depression among Saudi college nursing students: A cross-sectional study. Healthcare, 12(13). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12131316
Alsaqri, S. H., Albagawi, B. S., Aldalaykeh, M. K., & Alkuwaisi, M. J. (2019). Prediction of depression among undergraduate nursing students in North-Western Saudi Arabia: A quantitative cross-sectional study. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 6(3), 72–78. https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2019.03.011
Amadu, P. M., Enyonam Hoedoafia, R., Dassah, G., Cletus, L. K., Adwoa Kpebu, S. E., Aarah-Bapuah, M., & Kapio Abem, V. (2024). The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate nursing students in the university for development studies, Tamale. Fortune Journal of Health Sciences, 07(02), 178–191. https://doi.org/10.26502/fjhs.176
Asfaw, H., Yigzaw, N., Yohannis, Z., Fekadu, G., & Alemayehu, Y. (2020). Prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation and attempt among undergraduate medical students of Haramaya University, Ethiopia. A cross sectional study. PLoS One, 15(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236398
Babapour, A. R., Gahassab-Mozaffari, N., & Fathnezhad-Kazemi, A. (2022). Nurses’ job stress and its impact on quality of life and caring behaviors: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nursing, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-00852-y
Bedaso, A., Bekele, G., Mekonnen, N., & Tamiru, E. (2016). Prevalence of unrecognized depression and associated factors among patients attending medical outpatient department in Adare Hospital, Hawassa, Ethiopia. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 12, 2723–2729. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S118384
Facioli, A. M., Barros, Â. F., Melo, M. C., Ogliari, I. C. M., & Custódio, R. J. de M. (2020). Depression among nursing students and its association with academic life. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 73(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2018-0173
Faronbi, J. O., Adebiyi, A. T., Idowu, A. O., Faronbi, G. O., & Irinoye, O. O. (2021). Predictors of depressive symptoms and effective coping strategies among open and distance learning nursing students. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 14(March). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2021.100295
Fonseca, J. R. F. da, Calache, A. L. S. C., Santos, M. R. dos, Silva, R. M. da, & Moretto, S. A. (2019). Association of stress factors and depressive symptoms with the academic performance of nursing students. Revista Da Escola de Enfermagem Da USP, 53, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1980-220x2018030403530
Hai, N. T., Thi, H. L., Tran Cong, H. T., Thi, V. T., Hua Thi, L. O., Vo Le, T. T., … My, T. T. (2022). Investigating effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of nursing students during remote learning: an experience from Dong A University, Vietnam. SAGE Open Nursing, 8. https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608221135437
Hamasha, A. A.-H., Kareem, Y. M., Alghamdi, M. S., Algarni, M. S., Alahedib, K. S., & Alharbi, F. A. (2019). Risk indicators of depression among medical, dental, nursing, pharmacology, and other medical science students in Saudi Arabia. International Review of Psychiatry, 31(7–8), 646–652. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2019.1584095
Ibáñez-del Valle, V., Navarro-Martínez, R., & Cauli, O. (2023). Association between depressive symptoms and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in nursing students. Nutrients, 15(14). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15143158
Israel, G. D. (2003). Determining Sample Size (Tech Rep No PEOD-6) Florida. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida: Gainesville, FL, USA. Retrieved from: https://www.psycholosphere.com/Determining%20sample%20size%20by%20Glen%20Israel.pdf . Accessed on 12th June, 2023.
Janatolmakan, M., Andaieshgar, B., Aryan, A., Jafari, F., & Khatony, A. (2019). Comparison of depression rate between the first- and final-year nursing students in Kermanshah, Iran. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 12, 1147–1153. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S238873
Jiang, Z., Jia, X., Tao, R., & Dördüncü, H. (2022). COVID-19: A source of stress and depression among university students and poor academic performance. Frontiers in Public Health, 10(April), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.898556
Klongdee, K., & Chaniang, S. (2021). Factors predicting depression in nursing students at Boromarajonani. Journal of The Police Nurses, 13(1), 148–157. Retrieved from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/policenurse/article/view/247485 . Accessed on 10th June, 2023.
Li, B., Jiang, W., Han, S. S., Ye, Y. P., Li, Y. X., Lou, H., & Zhang, J. Y. (2024). Influence of moderate-to-high intensity physical activity on depression levels: A study based on a health survey of Chinese university students. BMC Public Health, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18433-w
Lim, A. J., Lau, C., & Li, N. P. (2021). The moderating role of social network size on social media use and self-esteem: An evolutionary mismatch perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.734206
Melo, H. E. de, Severian, P. F. G., Eid, L. P., Souza, M. R. de, Sequeira, C. A. da C., Souza, M. da G. G., & Pompeo, D. A. (2021). Impact of anxiety and depression symptoms on perceived self-efficacy in nursing students. Acta Paulista de Enfermagem, 34. https://doi.org/10.37689/acta-ape/2021AO01113
Mohamed, F. F. A., Zeny, H. H. A. El, Abdel-Fattah, N. R., & Sebaie, S. R. El. (2019). Perfectionism, self-compassion and depressive symptoms among nursing students. Egyptian Journal of Health Care, 10(4), 245–260. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejhc.2019.65534
Morgan, G. A., Barrett, K. C., Leech, N. L., & Gloeckner, G. W. (2020). IBM SPSS for introductory statistics: use and interpretation (6th ed.). New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429287657
Njim, T., Mbanga, C., Mouemba, D., Makebe, H., Toukam, L., Kika, B., & Mulango, I. (2020). Determinants of depression among nursing students in Cameroon: a cross-sectional analysis. BMC Nursing, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-020-00424-y
Nway, N. C., Phetrasuwan, S., Putdivarnichapong, W., & Vongsirimas, N. (2023). Factors contributing to depressive symptoms among undergraduate nursing students: a cross-sectional study. Nurse Education in Practice, 68(December 2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103587
OF, S., Fm, O., An, A., BA, A., & OA, B. (2018). Epidemiology of Depression in a Primary Care Setting in North Central Nigeria. Global Journal of Endocrinological Metabolism, 2(4), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.31031/GJEM.2018.02.000542
Purborini, N., Lee, M.-B., Devi, H. M., & Chang, H.-J. (2021). Associated factors of depression among young adults in Indonesia: A population-based longitudinal study. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, 120(7), 1434–1443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfma.2021.01.016
Samson, P. (2019). Role of coping in stress, anxiety, depression among nursing students of Purbanchal University in Kathmandu. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 17(3), 325–330. https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v17i3.1843
Santangelo, O. E., Provenzano, S., Giordano, D., Alagna, E., Armetta, F., Gliubizzi, C., … Firenze, A. (2019). Nursing students and depressive symptomatology: an observational study in University of Palermo. Mental Illness, 11(2), 25–31. https://doi.org/10.1108/MIJ-10-2019-0006
Sousa, T. B., Romeiro, A. M. de S., & Sandim, L. S. (2021). Symptoms of depression in nursing students. Revista Científica Multidisciplinar Núcleo Do Conhecimento, 02(1), 78–88. Retrieved from: https://www.nucleodoconhecimento.com.br/health/symptoms-of-depression . Accessed on 11th July, 2023.
Sum, M. Y., Chan, S. K. W., Tsui, H. K. H., & Wong, G. H. Y. (2024). Stigma towards mental illness, resilience, and help‐seeking behaviours in undergraduate students in Hong Kong. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 18(3), 181–189. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.13455
Tran, T. D., Kaligis, F., Wiguna, T., Willenberg, L., Nguyen, H. T. M., Luchters, S., … Fisher, J. (2019). Screening for depressive and anxiety disorders among adolescents in Indonesia: formal validation of the centre for epidemiologic studies depression scale – revised and the Kessler psychological distress scale. Journal of Affective Disorders, 246(August 2018), 189–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.12.042
Tung, Y.-J., Lo, K. K. H., Ho, R. C. M., & Tam, W. S. W. (2018). Prevalence of depression among nursing students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurse Education Today, 63(June 2017), 119–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2018.01.009
Verma, P., Verma, M., Lahri, B., Pakhare, A., & Das, S. (2021). Study of depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms and their associated risk factors among undergraduate nursing students in central India: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Primary Care Specialties, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.4103/jopcs.jopcs_16_21
Wagner, F., Wagner, R., Kolanisi, U., Makuapane, L., Masango, M., & Gómez-Olivé, F. (2022). The relationship between depression symptoms and academic performance among first-year undergraduate students at a South African university: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14517-7
World Health Organization. (2017). Depression and other common mental disorders: global health estimates. Retrieved from: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/254610/WHO-MSD-MER-2017.2-eng.pdf?sequence=1.pdf . Accessed on 10th March, 2023.
Yu, M., Tian, F., Cui, Q., & Wu, H. (2021). Prevalence and its associated factors of depressive symptoms among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Psychiatry, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03066-9
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 The Malaysian Journal of Nursing (MJN)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
