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Stigmatizing attitudes towards depression among university students in Syria

Author

Listed:
  • Sarya Swed
  • Sheikh Sohib
  • Noheir Ashraf Ibrahem Fathy Hassan
  • Mohammad Badr Almoshantaf
  • Sidra Mhd Sammer Alkadi
  • Yossef Hassan AbdelQadir
  • Nancy Ibrahim
  • Lina Taha Khair
  • Agyad Bakkour
  • Ali Hadi Hussein Muwaili
  • Dhuha Hadi Hussein Muwaili
  • Fatima Abubaker Abdalla Abdelmajid
  • Eman Mohammed Sharif Ahmad
  • Muhammad Mainuddin Patwary
  • Bisher Sawaf
  • Mhd Kutaiba Albuni
  • Elias Battikh
  • Nashaat Kamal Hamdy Elkalagi

Abstract

Background: Depression is a prominent cause of mental disability globally, having a severe impact on mental and physical health. Depression rehabilitation and treatment, whether through psychiatric management or counseling therapy, is hampered by stigmatizing attitudes regarding psychiatric illness patients impacted by societal and cultural factors. However, little is known about the stigma toward people with depression among the students in Syria. Methodology: A total of 1,056 students in Syria completed a questionnaire that included a case narrative illustrating depression. A total of 1,056 students in Syria completed a questionnaire that included a case narrative illustrating depression. The survey looked at attitudes toward depression, the desire to keep a safe distance from depressed people, stigma attitudes toward people with depression among college students, perceived beliefs about depressive people, gender (male and female), and the major section (medical and medical and non-medical) differences. Results: Four questionnaires have refused to finish the survey, out of 1259 issued. Around 47.80% of respondents, most of whom were females, felt that sad people might snap out of it. 14.60 percent believe depression isn’t even an actual medical condition. Surprisingly, 2% of respondents with a medical background thought the same thing. Regarding more extreme stigmatization, 16.80% of respondents thought depressed persons were harmful. People with depression will be avoided by 19.50 percent of respondents, and people with medical backgrounds will be avoided by 5.20 percent of respondents. Nearly one-fifth of those polled said they would not tell anyone if they were depressed. Only a tiny percentage of respondents (6.90 percent) said they would not hire or vote for a politician who suffers from depression (8.40 percent). Conclusion: According to the study, Syrian college students had a significant level of stigma and social distance toward mentally ill patients. Female students and non-medical students had a higher stigma in most subscale items for people with depression.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarya Swed & Sheikh Sohib & Noheir Ashraf Ibrahem Fathy Hassan & Mohammad Badr Almoshantaf & Sidra Mhd Sammer Alkadi & Yossef Hassan AbdelQadir & Nancy Ibrahim & Lina Taha Khair & Agyad Bakkour & Ali , 2022. "Stigmatizing attitudes towards depression among university students in Syria," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(9), pages 1-21, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0273483
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273483
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xian-Yang Lei & La-Mei Xiao & Ya-Nan Liu & Ya-Min Li, 2016. "Prevalence of Depression among Chinese University Students: A Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(4), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Samir Al-Adawi & Atsu S.S. Dorvlo & Suad S. Al-Ismaily & Dalal A. Al-Ghafry & Balquis Z. Al-Noobi & Ahmed Al-Salmi & David T. Burke & Mrugeshkumar K. Shah & Harith Ghassany & Suma P. Chand, 2002. "Perception of and Attitude towards Mental Illness in Oman," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 48(4), pages 305-317, December.
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