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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Demographic and psychosocial predictors of major depression and generalised anxiety disorder in Australian university students

Authors: Louise M. Farrer, Amelia Gulliver, Kylie Bennett, Daniel B. Fassnacht, Kathleen M. Griffiths

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Few studies have examined modifiable psychosocial risk factors for mental disorders among university students, and of these, none have employed measures that correspond to clinical diagnostic criteria. The aim of this study was to examine psychosocial and demographic risk factors for major depression and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) in a sample of Australian university students.

Methods

An anonymous web-based survey was distributed to undergraduate and postgraduate students at a mid-sized Australian university. A range of psychosocial and demographic risk factors were measured, and logistic regression models were used to examine significant predictors of major depression and GAD.

Results

A total of 611 students completed the survey. The prevalence of major depression and GAD in the sample was 7.9 and 17.5 %, respectively. In terms of demographic factors, the risk of depression was higher for students in their first year of undergraduate study, and the risk of GAD was higher for female students, those who moved to attend university, and students experiencing financial stress. In terms of psychosocial factors, students with experience of body image issues and lack of confidence were at significantly greater risk of major depression, and feeling too much pressure to succeed, lack of confidence, and difficulty coping with study was significantly associated with risk of GAD.

Conclusions

University students experience a range of unique psychosocial stressors that increase their risk of major depression and GAD, in addition to sociodemographic risk factors. It is important to examine psychosocial factors, as these are potentially modifiable and could be the focus of university-specific mental health interventions.
Footnotes
1
A participant aged 86 was identified as an outlier. Identical results were obtained when the analyses were conducted with and without the outlier included.
 
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Metadata
Title
Demographic and psychosocial predictors of major depression and generalised anxiety disorder in Australian university students
Authors
Louise M. Farrer
Amelia Gulliver
Kylie Bennett
Daniel B. Fassnacht
Kathleen M. Griffiths
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-0961-z

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