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Predictors of Depression among College Students in the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Jennifer R. Pharr
  • Courtney Coughenour
  • Maxim Gakh
  • Timothy Bungum
  • Sharon Jalene
  • Mary Whitehead
  • Manoj Sharma

Abstract

College students are disproportionately impacted by depression compared to the general population. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of depression among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform interventions. This cross-sectional study surveyed students at a large, diverse university in the southwest United States. Students provided information regarding the severity of their depression symptoms over the past two weeks (dependent variable) along with independent demographic and educational variables (age, sex, sexual orientation, grade point average, number of credits taken, first-generation college student status, race/ethnicity, and employment status), perceived stress, hours of sleep, physical fitness, and minutes of physical activity. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted. Variables that were significantly associated with depression in the multiple linear regression included stress, identifying as Asian, hours of sleep, and age. There is a need for stress management and mental health promotion interventions targeting college students. Additional interventionals should also focus on those more at risk, including those who identified as Asian (almost three times more likely to report depression compared with White students) and younger college students. We also found a need to promote sleep hygiene.

Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer R. Pharr & Courtney Coughenour & Maxim Gakh & Timothy Bungum & Sharon Jalene & Mary Whitehead & Manoj Sharma, 2022. "Predictors of Depression among College Students in the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Global Journal of Health Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(6), pages 1-9, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:gjhsjl:v:14:y:2022:i:6:p:9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hagger, Martin S. & Polet, Juho & Lintunen, Taru, 2018. "The reasoned action approach applied to health behavior: Role of past behavior and tests of some key moderators using meta-analytic structural equation modeling," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 85-94.
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    Cited by:

    1. Guillermo Gómez-Delgado & Ernesto Almaraz-Vega & Jaime Eduardo Ramírez-Mireles & María Elena Gutiérrez-Paredes & María del Rocío Padilla-Galindo, 2022. "Health-Related Quality of Life and Depressive Symptomatology in High School Students during the Lockdown Period Due to SARS-CoV-2," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-9, July.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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