College students’ perceptions of depressed mood: Exploring accuracy and associations.

Abstract

College is a time of high risk for depressed mood. Theories about depression (i.e. Cognitive Theory and Depressive Realism theory) are well researched, but suggest different venues of understanding the cognitive underpinnings of mood. In addition, much research is available about normative perceptions around substance use and how those perceptions relate to behaviors. However, there are no studies examining normative perceptions around depressed mood nor how these perceptions may relate to students’ own well-being. Undergraduates (N=1577) ages 18–24 responded to an online survey as part of a larger study on drinking and depressed mood. The survey assessed symptoms of depression and feelings of sadness, depression and suicidal ideation experienced in the past 2 weeks, as well as students’ perceptions of the prevalence of these feelings among other students. Rates of sadness and depression reported in the sample were relatively high; whereas rates of reported suicidal ideation were low. Most students under-estimated the prevalence of sadness and depression experienced by other students; a finding that was especially true for male students. Conversely, most students over-estimated the prevalence of suicidal ideation. Students who reported experiencing a given feeling in the past two weeks perceived greater rates of the feeling among other students. Depression symptoms were associated with both greater perceived prevalence of sadness, depression and suicidal ideation, as well as correct and over-estimates of the prevalence of sadness and depression. Implications for future directions in prevention and interventions efforts are discussed.

<p>Subjective health and quality of life among elderly people living with chronic multimorbidity and difficulty in activities of daily living in rural South Africa</p>

“…For depression, one-item questions are used both among the healthy population and those living with physical conditions:24,25 In the past 2 weeks, have you felt depressed?In the past 30 days, for about how many days have you felt sad, blue?…”

An examination of heavy drinking, depressed mood, drinking related constructs, and consequences among high-risk college students using a person-centered approach

“…Focusing more on components of protective behavioral strategies may be necessary for this group of student, especially for strategies which may be less salient the highest risk group due to their depression (e.g., obtaining social support from others in non-drinking activities). Finally, correcting normative misperceptions not only around drinking, but also about depressed mood (see Geisner, Kirk, Mittman, Kilmer, & Larimer, 2015a) may help high-risk students reduce their problematic behaviors. It is important to note that normative perceptions appeared to be higher for those who endorsed heavier drinking patterns and may be less associated with depressive symptoms.…”

“…This may lead to increased “helplessness” which may inhibit use of strategies by those who may not use as many protective strategies or try to avoid problems (i.e., not care what happens to them when they drink). In addition, their depressed mood may lead them to misperceiving normative behaviors (Geisner, Kirk, Mittmann, Kilmer, & Larimer 2015). These (less use of PBS and higher normative perceptions) in turn may lead to more drinking and consequences.…”

The role of perceived social norms in non-suicidal self-injury and suicidality: A systematic scoping review

“…Four studies only measured the acquired capability for suicide in terms of the 'fearlessness about death' construct [67,75,77], with one study measuring acquired capability as a suicide-related outcome [78], and a further study measured the thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness constructs but not acquired capability [76]. Ten studies tested theories featuring social norms, including: the Theory of Planned Behaviour [64,65,70,73,74]; the Theory of Reasoned Action [81]; the Theory of Normative Social Behavior [82]; the Social Norms Approach [83,84]; with a further study testing predictions of overestimations of peer depressed mood norms in the context of Beck's Cognitive Theory of Depression [85]. No studies tested both a theory of suicide and a theory of social norms at the same time.…”

“…Not all of the reviewed studies focused on measuring specific suicide-related norms in relation to suicide-related outcomes. Nine studies reported assessing explicit suicide-related norms, such as the perceived prevalence of suicidal behaviour or others' attitudes towards selfharm behaviours or suicidality [64,65,73,74,[82][83][84][85]95]. Sixteen studies focused on the conformity to some form of masculine social norm (e.g., masculine gender roles, masculine sense of honour, traditional or hegemonic norms) [67, 68, 71, 75-79, 90-94, 97-99], with one study focusing on female gender roles in relation to cultural norms associated with childbirth during marriage [72], and one study focusing on the non-conformity to broader traditional gender and sexuality norms amongst LGBT youth [69].…”