A longitudinal analysis of the relationships among daytime dysfunction, fatigue, and depression in college students

ABSTRACT

Objective: To examine the longitudinal trajectory of daytime dysfunction (DD) and its relationship with fatigue by depression status in university students.

Participants: 243 students completed online surveys from September- December 2016.

Methods: Surveys were conducted at three time points over a semester period: the beginning of the semester, the end of mid-term and the end of the semester.

Results: Results indicated that the DD significantly increased in all students over the semester. Students with depression showed a higher initial level of DD and faster rate of change compared to those without depression. A faster rate of change of DD predicted a higher level of end-semester fatigue.

Conclusions: Depression is related to a higher initial level of DD and its faster rate change which in turn, predicted end-semester fatigue, identifying one of the possible pathways through which depression impacts the functioning and health of affected students.

KEYWORDS:

• Depression
• fatigue
• sleep
• daytime dysfunction

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Brain Korea 21 Plus program, National Research Foundation of Korea, F17HR31D1802.