Depression and Coping Mechanisms among University Students

Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Depresyon ve Başa Çıkma Mekanizmaları: Karşılaştırmalı Analiz

Authors

  • Enas Sawah Marmara Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, İstanbul, Türkiye. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7726-9321
  • Mariyam Sohail Marmara Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Halk Sağlığı AD, İstanbul, Türkiye. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5894-4237
  • Tasnim M. Sulaiman Marmara Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Halk Sağlığı AD, İstanbul, Türkiye. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3637-9537
  • Amer Hamad Marmara Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, İstanbul, Türkiye.
  • Nastaran Karimi Medical Park Hastanesi, Yenidoğan Yoğun Bakım, İstanbul, Türkiye.
  • Ammar Alsaloum Marmara Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, İstanbul, Türkiye.
  • Merve Kinacigil Marmara Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, İstanbul, Türkiye.
  • Berfu Cerci Ongun Doğu Akdeniz Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Anatomi AD, Gazimağusa, KKTC. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4016-6692

Keywords:

Coping mechanisms, University students, Depression prevalence

Abstract

The primary aim of this study is to estimate and identify the frequency of various coping techniques used among depressed and non-depressed individuals when faced with negative affective state and subsequent life problems. In this cross-sectional study, 2nd and 3rd year university students were selected from four faculties by random sampling including media, pharmacy, medicine and economics yielding a total of 379 students. The prevalence of depression of university students was 26.4%, highest being medical students (42%). Depression levels among males and females was found to be insignificant (p=0.3, >0.05), nor was coping mechanisms, except for substance abuse in males (p=0.03, <0.05). Coping techniques were significantly different for depressed students and non-depressed students, depressed students exhibited a tendency for using maladaptive coping measures such as: self-blame 58% (n=220), venting 57% (n=216) and denial 54% (n=205). In contrast, non-depressed students followed adaptive coping techniques much more frequently, namely, active coping 64% (n=243), planning 61% (n=231) and acceptance 61% (n=231). Prevalence of depression was highest among medical students and factors such as stress and difficulties of medical life were identified.

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Published

2021-08-30

How to Cite

Sawah, E., Sohail, M., Sulaiman, T., Hamad, A. ., Karimi, N., Alsaloum, A., Kinacigil, M., & Ongun, B. (2021). Depression and Coping Mechanisms among University Students: Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Depresyon ve Başa Çıkma Mekanizmaları: Karşılaştırmalı Analiz. Journal of Medicine and Applied Sciences, 1(1), 15–20. Retrieved from https://medappsci.com/index.php/jmas/article/view/56