DEPRESSION AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF CAUSES, DETERMINANTS, AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Abstract

Depression has emerged as one of the most significant mental health concerns among college students, affecting their emotional well-being, academic performance, and overall quality of life. The present study investigates the prevalence, causes, determinants, and preventive measures associated with depression among undergraduate and postgraduate students pursuing Commerce, Management, Science, and Engineering programmes. The study is based on a cross-sectional survey of 400 students comprising 250 males and 150 females aged between 18 and 25 years. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and standardized psychological assessment instruments, namely the Beck Depression Inventory-21 (BDI-21), Student Health Questionnaire-9 (SHQ-9),and Depression Screening Scale-14 (DSS-14). Descriptive statistics and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were employed to analyse the data and test the proposed hypotheses. The findings indicate that female students experience significantly higher levels of depression than male students, while no statistically significant differences were observed with respect to age, educational qualification, family income, or peer pressure. The study identifies inadequate sleep, financial stress, fear of unemployment, poor dietary habits, insufficient physical activity, stressful life events, and academic expectations as the primary contributors to depression among college students. Although a majority of respondents reported normal or mild depressive symptoms, a considerable proportion exhibited moderate to severe depression requiring timely intervention. The study recommends promoting healthy sleep patterns, regular physical exercise, balanced nutrition, meditation,yoga, counselling services, and peer support mechanisms within higher educational institutions to improve students' mental well-being. The findings provide useful implications for educational administrators, counsellors, policymakers, and healthcare professionals in designing effective mental health interventions and preventive strategies for college students.