Prevalence and Determinants of Depression Among University Students: Case Study, Technical University of Mombasa

Abstract

Depression is a significant global mental health issue that affects countless individuals annually and can lead to severe consequences, including suicide. One area that has seen an increase in mental health concerns is among public university students, with many struggling with depression-related challenges and even dropping out of school. Unfortunately, there have been several reports of suicide among university students in the mainstream media. To better understand the situation, a study was conducted to determine the prevalence of depression among Technical University of Mombasa students and identify the risk factors that contribute to this condition. The study surveyed 390 students using structured questionnaires, with depression as the dependent variable and family, school, environment, and economic factors as the independent variables. Through the use of the chi-square test of independence and multiple linear regression model, the study found that 57.7% of students experienced depression, with students in year four and above being more likely to be affected than those in lower years. The study found that family, school, environment, and economic factors significantly influence depression among students, with 34.2% of the variations in depression explained by these factors. Family, school, environmental, and economic factors were found to increase depression levels by 23.8%, 12.7%, 10.6%, and 17.7%, respectively. Based on these results, the study recommended establishing peer counselling programs, raising awareness of mental health issues, creating online platforms for students to share their concerns, promoting participation in extracurricular activities, and incorporating mental health education into the university curriculum. These recommendations aim to address the rising cases of depression and promote the overall well-being of students in public universities in Kenya.