Mental Distress and Associated Factors Among Undergraduate Engineering Students of Hawassa University, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

Mental distress is a range of symptoms and experiences of a person’s internal life that are commonly held to be troubling, confusing or out of the ordinary. Mental distress often interferes with studying, social interaction, and academic outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the prevalence of mental distress and factors associated with it among undergraduate engineering students at Hawassa University.

Methods

We conducted an institution-based cross-sectional descriptive study on undergraduate engineering students at Hawassa University. We collected the data from January to April 30, 2018, using interviewer-administered Self-Report Questionnaire 20 (SRQ-20) from 341 participants selected by stratified sampling and we performed multiple logistic regression analysis to find factors associated with mental distress.

Results

Out of the total study population, 222 (65.1%) were males, and 172 (50.4%) were age ≥21. We found the prevalence of mental distress using SRQ-20 with a cut-off point ≥8 to be 28.7%. Female students were 2.9 times more likely to have mental distress as compared to male students (AOR= 2.90, 95% CI: 1.52–5.50). Facing financial problem (AOR= 2.20; CI = 1.25–3.85), poor social support (AOR= 2.58, 95% CI: 1.51–4.42), lack of interest in their field of study (AOR=2.57; CI: 1.23–5.38) and unresolved conflict with roommate (AOR= 2.29, 95% CI: 1.08–4.00) were significant predictors of mental distress.

Conclusion

This study showed a high prevalence of mental distress among engineering students. So, policymakers, university officials, and parents need to give due attention to engineering undergraduate students for proactive measures.

Keywords:

• mental distress
• engineering students
• Hawassa
• Ethiopia

Abbreviations

CGPA, Cumulative Grade Point Average; DSM-5, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; EMoE, Ethiopian Ministry of Education; ETB, Ethiopian Birr; IOT, Institute of Technology; SRQ-20, Self-Report Questionnaire 20; USA, United States of America; WHO, World Health Organization.

Data Sharing Statement

All essential data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article. However, supplementary datasets are available from the corresponding author on a reasonable request.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and we obtained ethical clearance from Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences Institutional Review Board. The right of the participants to refuse or discontinue participation was respected and confidentiality was ensured. All respondents signed written informed consent before taking part in the research.

Acknowledgment

We want to extend our special gratitude to Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health Science for supporting the whole research project. Our sincere thanks go to the IOT campus registrar office for their dedicated collaboration and we are grateful and appreciate all research participants for their unreserved participation.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting and revising the article, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

All authors declared no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

Hawassa University, College of Health Science financially supported the work. The write-up and the contents of this study are only the responsibility of the authors and may not represent views of Hawassa University, College of Health Science.