Basic Research Question
Depression and depressive disorders are major concerns for university students, given the massive readjustments made in life with the shift to an institution of higher learning. Alsubaie et al., (2019) conducted a study to investigate the impacts of social support on depression and the quality of life for university students. The authors sought to discover whether social support was a critical requirement for students in universities. The research was engineered to discover whether the presence of social support improved the quality of the lives of university students. The study aimed at highlighting that social support is vital for university students, and would enable them to lead better lives.
Previous Research Findings
The article says Kugbey et al., (2015) established a positive correlation between social support and depression, anxiety, and stress for university students. Students who had adequate social support through the help of friends and family were better capable of coping with depressive symptoms and other mental health challenges. These students recovered faster and handled their challenges than those who lacked social support.
The article says Bukhari & Afzal, (2017) found that the deficiency of societal backing was a crucial determining factor of mental health challenges among university students, including depressive symptoms. Social upkeep borrowed from friends, family, and the community was important in guaranteeing these learners familiarized to the change in their lives positively and avoided falling into depression.
Earlier Studies
Previous studies have analyzed the impact of social support on depressive symptoms, but the majority of these studies have focused on the general population. Information regarding the importance of social support and its impact on the quality of life is extensive with regard to the general population. Additionally, massive research has been conducted on the impact of social support on university students, but at a limited scale. Previous research is limited because studies were geared toward assessing outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and psychological stress. There was no detailed investigation of the effect of collective backing on depressive symptoms and quality of life among these learners. An additional limitation of the research conducted amongst university students was the focus on medical students only. This meant that the results of most studies were limited to a small population that was not representative of the entire university.
This study sought to address these gaps in the literature, by ensuring the study participants were as representative of the general population as possible. This would ensure the results of the study were widely applicable to the average university student. Alsubaie et al., (2019) additionally acknowledge that depression is a major challenge for university students given the massive changes they make to their lives. University education is usually the time when students are separated from their families and a period that allows them to experiment with many personal decisions. There are changes to their social lives, and academics, and the significant freedom endangers them if not used wisely. The research sought to establish the necessary social support tools for university students. These tools would facilitate the prevention of mental health challenges such as depressive symptoms and enable better recovery.
Design
The study was a cross-sectional design, conducted through an online survey, using Qualtrics software. The participants included in the study were sought through various platforms in the participating institution after the ethical approval was sought and granted. Postcards, posters and a URL online link were used to promote the study amongst students. Emails were sent to all the students who were part of the students’ union, 7000 students in total (Alsubaie et al., 2019). Depressive symptoms were one of the variables in the study and were measured using the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Social support was an additional variable and was measured using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) (Alsubaie et al., 2019). The final variable assessed in the study was quality of life, using the WHOQOL-BREF. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software version 23, with the mean score of the scales being compared. One-way ANOVA and Chi-square were performed to examine group differences, alongside bivariate correlations for relationships between all variables of interest.
Participants
The final sample for the research consisted of 461 students, with female students forming the bulk at 378 (82%), and male students being 83(18%). The mean age of the students who participated in the study was 20.62 years (SD 3.34) (Alsubaie et al., 2019). The majority of the students were undergraduate students, totaling 430 (93.3%), with postgraduate students totaling 31 students (6.7%) (Alsubaie et al., 2019). Most of the participants were students who had moved from their homes 91.8%, while those who had not moved were 8.2% of the study participants (Alsubaie et al., 2019). International students constituted 22.3% (103) of those who had moved from their homes (Alsubaie et al., 2019). 26.9% of the participants were under employment while undertaking their studies (Alsubaie et al., 2019). The study results did not specify parameters such as the race of the participants or their ethnicity. The recruitment of students for the study was voluntary and encompassed the participating institution.
Main Message about the Results
The study found that the prevalence of depression was 33% amongst students, and this was harmonious with the figure discovered by previous studies. Social support conferred students with a sense of appreciation and connection to social networks. The feeling of being sustained was associated with diminished levels of mental health problems and acted as a shielding factor against depression (Alsubaie et al., 2019).
Support from all cadres of the society was deemed vital and included family and friends. These two encouraged close relationships and openness for the students, enabling them to combat the change in environment from home to university better (Alsubaie et al., 2019). The study additionally established that social support correlated to the quality of life led by the students. Family, friends, and significant others were a supportive group for the students and offered assurances that the university journey would be bearable. Students who enjoyed significant social support, therefore, lived better than their counterparts who lacked this.
The Usefulness of the Results
The results of the study are crucial in combating depression and anxiety among university students. Social support is an indispensable component of the lives of university students, needed for better outcomes. This research is a clarion call to the necessary shareholders to ensure students have access to social support which ensures they live healthier lives. The impact of social support on the quality of life led by students is profound and makes a serious basis for a conversation on change. Families are called upon to ensure that students from their backgrounds receive adequate support. Students are encouraged to establish healthy social relationships that enable them to lead better lives and handle mental health challenges better. The establishment of counseling services and social support institutions within the universities is crucial and will serve to ensure students are better.
Opinion
The study was well conducted, with the researchers making careful considerations in their selection process to ensure it remains randomized and eliminates bias. This was however detrimental since some groups could have missed representation within the final sample. A more targeted approach such as cluster sampling would have ensured there was equal representation for male and female students. Additionally, such an approach would have ensured the various races within the university are considered and offered adequate representation. The analysis of the results was adequate and employed the use of reliable software, alongside the various mechanisms that ensured the data achieved validity and credibility. The research employed the use of standard data collection tools, which ensured the final results were generalizable. The research is a vital addition to the scholarly community and will undoubtedly contribute to combating mental health challenges among university students.
New Study
A future study into the topic of depression among university students should take a more comprehensive approach that ensures representation. There is a need to ensure an equal number of participants based on race, origin, and sex. This will ensure that the results are widely generalizable. Future research should additionally analyze this phenomenon by considering other mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety, and suicide. This will ensure that a greater spectrum is covered and that a comprehensive analysis of the challenges students face is addressed. New studies should additionally compare depression amongst students in different parts of the world, for example, middle-income, and low-income countries. This will ensure there is greater knowledge of other factors that may contribute to depression among students, including the economic situation.
References
Alsubaie, M. M., Stain, H. J., Webster, L. A. D., & Wadman, R. (2019). The role of sources of social support on depression and quality of life for university students. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 24(4), 484–496. Web.
Bukhari, D. S. R., & Afzal, F. (2017). Perceived social support predicts psychological problems among university students. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 4(2). Web.
Kugbey, N., Osei-Boadi, S., & Atefoe, E. (2015). The influence of social support on the levels of depression, anxiety and stress among students in Ghana. Online, 6(25). Web.