Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms among University Students in Oman
Objectives: To study the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its association with gender, academic year, and college among university students in Oman.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Omani students attending the students’ clinic of the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). A system...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Oman Medical Specialty Board
2011-07-01
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| Series: | Oman Medical Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journals.indexcopernicus.com/fulltxt.php?ICID=982352 |
| Summary: | Objectives: To study the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its association with gender, academic year, and college among university students in Oman.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Omani students attending the students’ clinic of the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). A systematic sampling of students, males and females, from different colleges, who visited the clinic during the study period, was carried out. The self-administered Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to screen for propensity to depression.Results: A total of 481 students participated in the study (243 males and 238 females). Overall, 133 (27.7�20of the participants (66 males and 67 females) had depression of various grades based on the PHQ-9 diagnostic criteria using a cut point of more than 11. Depression score at the cut point of 11 was not statistically associated with gender, college and the academic year.Conclusion: Tendency for depression might be a common health problem among college students in Oman attending primary health care facilities. Further research on socio-demographic characteristics and the effect of depression on the academic performance is needed. |
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| ISSN: | 1999-768X 2070-5204 |