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Heumann E, Palacio Siebe AV, Stock C, Heinrichs K. Depressive Symptoms Among Higher Education Students in Germany-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Public Health Rev 2024; 45:1606983. [PMID: 38978768 PMCID: PMC11228579 DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2024.1606983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Higher education students in Germany are vulnerable to depressive symptoms. Despite ample evidence, no comprehensive review has recently been conducted. Thus, our systematic review and meta-analysis aims at describing the extent to which students are affected by depressive symptoms. Methods We searched three databases for articles reporting the prevalence rates of depressiveness among students in Germany published between 2002 and 2023. Pooled prevalence rates were calculated using random effects models, both for the overall sample and for subgroups categorized by gender, study setting, assessment instrument, and whether the study was conducted before or during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results The search yielded 992 records. After screening, 60 articles remained for data extraction. About one out of five students (21.1%) exhibits depressive symptoms. Pooled prevalence rates differ between subgroups, with higher rates during the COVID-19 pandemic than before (30.6% versus 18.0%) and with females being more affected than their male counterparts (29.0% versus 23.1%). Conclusion This review underlines the urgency with which the mental health of students should be addressed at the (higher educational) policy level. Clinical Trial Registration: PROPSPERO, Identifier CRD42022384066.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Heumann
- Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ana Valentina Palacio Siebe
- Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christiane Stock
- Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Unit for Health Promotion Research, University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark
| | - Katherina Heinrichs
- Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Lamlé P, Keuch L, Pukas L, Reinsch J, Röder H, Clausner H, Watzke S. Suicidal ideations among students attending vocational school in Germany: a cross-sectional study to identify prevalence and associated risk factors. J Public Health (Oxf) 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10389-022-01745-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Aim
Even though students attending vocational school are very vulnerable to the development of mental health problems, few studies identify the correlation between suicidal ideations and vocational education. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the prevalence and associated risk factors for suicidal ideations among vocational students in Germany.
Methods
We conducted a cross sectional survey with a total of 555 pupils. The pupils received a standardized questionnaire, assessing sociodemographic data, the use of protective factors, possible risk factors, traits for neuroticism and depressive symptoms. For our study, we excluded item 9 from the Beck depression index (BDI-II) to identify the prevalence of suicidal ideation.
Results
Our results show that the prevalence of suicidal ideation among students attending vocational school is 23.2%. A combination of feeling lonely, male sex, low importance of religion, little time for hobbies and BMI scores outside the norm show the highest risk for suicidal ideation and can be identified as significant predictors.
Conclusion
This cross-sectional study highlights the mental burden vocational students in Germany are confronted with and underlines the necessity of paying special attention to this group of young adults. Furthermore, it emphasizes the necessity of further studies on this topic, especially including larger student populations. The results should be used to decrease the significant loss of life caused by suicidal behavior in young adults.
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Dudo K, Ehring E, Fuchs S, Herget S, Watzke S, Unverzagt S, Frese T. The association of sleep patterns and depressive symptoms in medical students: a cross-sectional study. BMC Res Notes 2022; 15:109. [PMID: 35317836 PMCID: PMC8939186 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-022-05975-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Mental health is a fundamental aspect in ensuring the stable and successful professional life of future physicians. Depressive symptoms can negatively affect the work-life-balance and efficiency at work of medical students. To date, there have been very few studies involving medical students that examine the association between single sleep characteristics and the outcome of the Beck Depression Inventory-II score. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate this possible association. A classroom survey using socio-demographic characteristics, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was conducted amongst students at a German medical school from December 2017 to September 2018. Data analysis was performed with descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. Results Of the students surveyed, 19% showed depressive symptoms with a Beck Depression Inventory-II score over 13 and 42% of these cases were moderate or severe. The occurrence of relevant depressive symptoms was associated with lower sleep quality, higher sleep latency, and the consumption of sleeping pills. In general, female students and students from abroad had a higher risk of depressive symptoms. Addressing these relevant findings in medical school can increase awareness of mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Dudo
- Institute of General Practice & Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Emilia Ehring
- Institute of General Practice & Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Stephan Fuchs
- Institute of General Practice & Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany.
| | - Sabine Herget
- Department of General Practice, Medical Faculty of the University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 55, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan Watzke
- Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Julius-Kühn-Straße 7, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Susanne Unverzagt
- Institute of General Practice & Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Thomas Frese
- Institute of General Practice & Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
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Negash S, Kartschmit N, Mikolajczyk RT, Watzke S, Matos Fialho PM, Pischke CR, Busse H, Helmer SM, Stock C, Zeeb H, Wendt C, Niephaus Y, Schmidt-Pokrzywniak A. Worsened Financial Situation During the COVID-19 Pandemic Was Associated With Depressive Symptomatology Among University Students in Germany: Results of the COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:743158. [PMID: 34975561 PMCID: PMC8716444 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.743158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Previous findings suggest that university students are at an elevated risk to experience financial hardship and to suffer from depressive symptoms. This vulnerability may have substantially increased during the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic which might have affected students' socio-economic situation but possibly also their mental well-being. We examined whether the financial situation changed during the COVID-19 pandemic among German university students, and whether changes were associated with mental well-being. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey in May and July 2020 at five German universities. Participants were asked, if they had sufficient financial resources to cover monthly expenses before and during the pandemic. The answer options were dichotomized into worsened and no change/better financial situation compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the CES-D 8 scale. For examining associations between sociodemographic, study-related, and financial factors and "worsened financial situation," we ran a generalized linear mixed model. To assess associations between depressive symptoms and worsened financial situation, we performed a linear mixed model. Results: We included 7,199 participants in the analyses (69% female, 30% male, 1% diverse, mean age: 24 years, standard deviation: 4.7). Overall, 25% of the participants reported to have a worsened financial situation at the time of the survey than in the time before COVID-19. Factors associated with a worsened financial situation were migration background, parents not being academics, not being able to borrow money, and payment of tuition fee by student and loan [odds ratios (OR) ranging from 1.20 to 2.35]. Factors associated with lower odds were: being single, living with others, studying a health-related field, being enrolled in a doctoral/Ph.D. or state exam program, and publicly funded tuition/tuition paid with a scholarship (OR ranging from 0.42 to 0.80). A worsened financial situation was associated with 1.02 points more on the CES-D 8 scale (95% CI: 0.80-1.24). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the pandemic put a number of students under financial strain with detrimental consequences for their mental well-being. Renewed attention must be paid to this vulnerable group to prevent the potentially damaging effects on their mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Negash
- Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical School of the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Nadja Kartschmit
- Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical School of the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Rafael T Mikolajczyk
- Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical School of the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Stefan Watzke
- Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Halle-Saale, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Paula Mayara Matos Fialho
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Medical Sociology, Centre for Health and Society, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Claudia R Pischke
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Medical Sociology, Centre for Health and Society, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Heide Busse
- Department Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz-Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Stefanie M Helmer
- Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christiane Stock
- Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hajo Zeeb
- Department Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz-Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Claus Wendt
- Department of Social Sciences, University Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Yasemin Niephaus
- Department of Social Sciences, University Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Andrea Schmidt-Pokrzywniak
- Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical School of the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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