Prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety symptoms among college students: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

Background To evaluate the global prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms among college students and potential associated factors. Methods PubMed and Web of Science were searched from their inception to March 28, 2021. Random‐effects models were used to calculate the pooled prevalence of depression and anxiety. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore potential heterogeneity. Egger’s and Begg’s test were used to assess publication bias. Results A total of 64 studies with 100,187 individuals were included in the present meta‐analysis. The pooled prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms among college students was 33.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 29.3%–37.8%) and 39.0% (95% CI, 34.6%–43.4%), respectively. The highest prevalence of depression symptoms was found in Africa region (40.1%, 95% CI 12.3–67.9%), lower middle‐income countries (42.5%, 95% CI 28.6–56.3%), and medical college students (39.4%, 95% CI 29.3–49.6%). For the prevalence of anxiety symptoms, the highest was observed in North America (48.3%, 95% CI 37.4–59.2%), lower middle‐income countries (54.2%, 95% CI 35.0–73.4%), medical college students (47.1%, 95% CI 35.1–59.1%) and identified by Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) (49.1%, 95% CI 31.0–43.0%). Besides, the prevalence of depression symptoms (35.9%, 95% CI 20.2–51.7%) and anxiety symptoms (40.7%, 95% CI 39.5–42.0%) was higher in studies conducted after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outbreak. Conclusions Our study suggests that a lot of college students experience depression and anxiety symptoms and clarifies factors that are related to these mental disorders. Effective prevention and intervention strategies for mental disorders should be developed among college students.

Interpersonal sensitivity on college freshmen’s depression: A moderated moderation model of psychological capital and family support

“…A study of nursing students indicated that 61.7% of first-year and 38.1% of last-year college students suffered from various degrees of depressive symptoms (18). Results of the meta-analysis about the prevalence of depression among college students revealed that 33.6% of students reported depressive symptoms (19), and the prevalence of depression among freshmen was 35.4% in Tang's study (20). According to the report on the Development of China's National Mental Health (2019-2020), the detection rate of depression among Chinese adolescents is 24.6%, and for major depression, 7.4%.…”

Relationships between Intolerance of Uncertainty, Worry, Rumination, and Distress in College Students During the Coronavirus Pandemic: the Role of COVID-19 Threat Appraisals

“…1). Given that depression and anxiety have been found to vary as a function of gender [22], this covariate will be controlled for in study hypotheses. Specifically, we hypothesize the following: (1) IU will be related to greater coronavirus anxiety and depressive symptoms and that these relationships will be stronger among those who appraise the pandemic as more threatening; (2) worry will mediate the relationship between IU and coronavirus anxiety and this indirect effect will be stronger for individuals who appraise the pandemic as more threatening; (3) rumination will mediate the relationship between IU and depressive symptoms and this indirect effect will be stronger for individuals who appraise the pandemic as more threatening.…”

Smartphone overuse, depression & anxiety in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Depressive symptoms were present in 78% of participants. This result is remarkably higher than estimates found in meta-analyses during (39%, 95% CI = 29–50%) and before (27%, 95% CI: 25–30%) the pandemic period [ 19 , 32 ]. However, similar findings were reported in Peruvian medical students.…”

“…However, to our knowledge there are no additional reports exploring the independent effect of smartphone overuse on mental disorders among medical students. The current gap needs to be addressed assuming the risk of long-term mental disorders in this population [ 32 ].…”