article · International Journal of Mental Health Systems
A cross-sectional study of 422 students at Debre Berhan University investigated the prevalence of common mental disorders, associated risk factors, and their impact on academic performance. Using the Kessler psychological distress scale, the assessment revealed that 63.1 percent of participants met the diagnostic criteria for a common mental disorder. Factors significantly linked to higher rates of mental distress included insomnia, alcohol consumption, headaches, worshipping practices, and specific fields of study. Although students experiencing common mental disorders had a marginally lower cumulative grade point average than their peers, the difference was not statistically significant, with mental distress explaining less than one percent of variation in academic outcomes. The findings indicate a critical need for integrated support services targeting sleep issues, physical health symptoms, and substance use in higher education settings.
University life presents critical challenges for youth wellbeing, with high rates of psychological distress observed among students. Understanding that factors such as sleep deprivation, physical symptoms, and alcohol consumption correlate strongly with mental distress helps higher education administrators and healthcare providers design targeted student support programmes, even when academic marks do not clearly signal underlying health issues.
This early-stage observational research highlights specific behavioural and health factors that could inform student wellness initiatives and preventative care programmes within tertiary institutions. Educational bodies and healthcare planners could use these insights to design targeted counselling interventions, though the abstract does not describe any specific commercial product, technology, or immediate commercialisation pathway.
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Common mental disorder (CMD) is prevalent in industrialized and non-industrialized countries. The prevalence of CMD among university students was 28.8–44.7% and attributed to several risk factors, such as schooling. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of CMD. In addition, the association between CMD and academic performance was tested. Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted with 422 students at Debre Berhan university from March to April 2015. CMD was the primary outcome variable whereas academic performance was the secondary outcome variable. Kessler psychological distress (K10) scale was used to assess CMD. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed for modeling the primary outcome variable; independent samples T test and linear regression analysis were carried out for modeling the secondary outcome variable. The strength of association was interpreted using odds ratio and regression coefficient (β) and decision on statistical significance was made at a p value of 0.05. Data were entered using EPI-data version 3.1 software and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.01 software. The prevalence of CMD was 63.1%. Field of study (p = 0.008, OR = 0.2, 95% CI 0.04–0.61), worshiping (p = 0.04, OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.02–3.35), insomnia (p < 0.001, OR = 3.8, 95% CI 2.21–6.57), alcohol drinking (p = 0.006, OR = 2.7, 95% CI 1.33–5.66), and headache (p = 0.02, OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.10–3.86) were identified risk factors for CMD. The mean cumulative grade point average of students with CMD was lower by 0.02 compared to those without CMD, but not statistically significant (p = 0.70, β = −0.02, 95% CI −0.15 to 0.10). CMD explained only 0.8% (r2 = 0.008) of the difference in academic performance between students. At least three out of five students fulfilled CMD diagnostic criteria. The statistically significant risk factors were field of study, worshiping, insomnia, alcohol drinking, and headache. Moreover, there was no statistically significant association between CMD and academic performance. Undertaking integrated evidence-based intervention focusing on students with poor sleep quality, poor physical health, and who drink alcohol is essential if the present finding confirmed by a longitudinal study.
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DOI: 10.1186/s13033-017-0142-6
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