The relationship between depression symptoms and academic performance among first-year undergraduate students at a South African university: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: South African universities face a challenge of low throughput rates, with most students failing to complete their studies within the minimum regulatory time. Literature has begun to investigate the contribution of well-being, including mental health, with depression among students being one of the most common mental disorders explored. However, locally relevant research exploring associations between depression and academic performance has been limited. This research hypothesizes that the presence of depression symptoms, when controlling for key socio-demographic factors, has an adverse impact on student academic outcomes and contributes to the delay in the academic progression of students. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional design. Data were collected in 2019 from first-time, first-year undergraduate students using a self-administered online questionnaire. In total, 1,642 students completed the survey. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to screen for depression symptoms. Data on students’ academic performance were obtained from institutional records. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to examine associations between depression symptoms and academic performance. Results: Most participants (76%) successfully progressed (meeting the requirements to proceed to the second year of university study). Of the participants, 10% displayed symptoms of severe depression. The likelihood of progression delay (not meeting the academic requirements to proceed to the second year of university study) increased with the severity of depression symptoms. Moderate depression symptoms nearly doubled the adjusted odds of progression delay (aOR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.30-3.00, p = 0.001). The likelihood of progression delay was nearly tripled by moderate severe depression symptoms (aOR = 2.70, 95% CI:1.70–4.36, p < 0.001) and severe depression symptoms (aOR = 2.59, 95% CI:1.54–4.36, p < 0.001). The model controlled for field of study, financial aid support as well as sex and race. Conclusion: Higher levels of depression symptoms among first-year university students are associated with a greater likelihood of progression delay and may contribute to the low throughput rates currently seen in South African universities. It is important for students, universities and government departments to recognize student mental wellness needs and how these can be met.

Examining bedtime procrastination, study engagement, and studyholism in undergraduate students, and their association with insomnia

“…The authors found that approximately 40% of fifth-year medical students face difficulties coping with academic demands. In line with this, previous reports identified study year as a factor contributing to depression ( Chen et al, 2018 ; Wagner et al, 2022 ), stress, anxiety ( Barakat et al, 2016 ), procrastination ( Ibrahim et al, 2021 ), and insomnia ( Roka et al, 2020 ).…”

The mental health state of extended programme students at a South African university

“…For instance, Seehuus et al (2021) found 13.67% prevalence of severe and extremely severe anxiety symptoms among American college students. Wagner et al (2022) reported 18% prevalence of severe anxiety symptoms, and Bantjes et al (2023) found 10.9% prevalence of recent (past 30 days) generalised anxiety disorder. Naylor (2022) observed 47.9% severe anxiety symptoms among students with low tertiary entrance scores, aligning closely with this study's findings.…”

“…Seehuus et al (2021) found 12.29% prevalence of severe and extremely severe depression symptoms in American college students using the DASS-21 questionnaire. Wagner et al (2022) reported a 10% prevalence of severe depression symptoms in first-year undergraduates at a South African university using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Bantjes et al (2023) found a 15.4% prevalence of recent major depressive episodes among undergraduate students at 17 South African public universities using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Screening Scales.…”

“…South African researchers in the WMH-ICS initiative (see Bantjes et al, 2021; Bantjes et al, 2023; Auerbach et al, 2018) have contributed significantly to the knowledge on the state of mental health among South African university students. Independent studies on this topic include work by Eloff and Graham (2020), Meintjes (2020), and Wagner et al (2022).…”

Disaster preparedness in healthcare professionals amid COVID-19 and beyond: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

“…Depression has become widespread among university students and is understood as a critical barrier to academic performance at the university ( Jiang et al, 2022 , Wagner et al, 2022 ). Systematic reviews show that the occurrence of depressive symptoms is higher among university students than among non-college students or the general population ( Akhtar et al, 2020 , Luo et al, 2021 , Zou et al, 2022 ).…”