Abstract

ARRIETA VERGARA, Katherine M.; DIAZ CARDENAS, Shyrley  and  GONZALEZ MARTINEZ, Farith. Depression and anxiety symptoms in young university students: prevalence and related factors. Rev Clin Med Fam [online]. 2014, vol.7, n.1, pp.14-22. ISSN 2386-8201.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1699-695X2014000100003.

Objective: To estimate the association between depression and anxiety symptoms and socio-demographic, academic, behavioural and family factors among university students. Design of the study: Cross-sectional study. Sample setting: Public University of Cartagena, Colombia. Participants: 973 university students of Cartagena (Colombia), selected by probability sampling. Main measures: An anonymous self-reporting instrument was used. It included: socio-demographic variables (sex, age, socio-economic status), the screening questionnaire for depression and anxiety, the Goldberg questionnaire (GDAS), the APGAR family test to determine the family function and other test items which asked about associated factors. The data obtained were analyzed using frequencies and proportions, disparity ratios and nominal logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of the depression and anxiety symptoms was 76.2% and 74.4% respectively. The factors associated to anxiety symptoms were: economic difficulties, family problems and alcohol consumption; the factors related to depression symptoms were: family problems, economic difficulties, anxiety and family history of anxiety or depression. Conclusions: Anxiety and depression symptomatology was high among university students, being economic difficulties and family problems the most frequent factors causin its onset. Therefore, specific  interventions to modify these behaviours for the benefit of the quality of life of these young people are required.

Keywords : Depression; Anxiety; Students; Risk Factors.

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