‘University Blues’: Depression among Tertiary Students during an Academic Year

Abstract

Depression levels of 148 undergraduates were measured at the beginning and the end of an academic year: 16% were depressed initially; 18% were depressed at the end of the year; 73% were not depressed on either occasion; 7% were depressed on both occasions. The major predictor of students' end-of-year depression levels was initial depression level. Students' scores on an irrational beliefs test and the number of stressful life events experienced were also predictive of end-of-year depression.