Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of common mental disorders among first-year university students in post-apartheid South Africa: implications for a public mental health approach to student wellness

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dc.contributor.authorBantjes, Jason
dc.contributor.authorLochner, Christine
dc.contributor.authorSaal, Wylene
dc.contributor.authorRoos, Janine
dc.contributor.authorTaljaard, Lian
dc.contributor.authorPage, Daniel
dc.contributor.authorAuerbach, Randy P
dc.contributor.authorMortier, Philippe
dc.contributor.authorBruffaerts, Ronny
dc.contributor.authorKessler, Ronald C
dc.contributor.authorStein, Dan J
dc.date.accessioned2019-12-10T09:04:47Z
dc.date.available2019-12-10T09:04:47Z
dc.date.issued2019-07-10
dc.date.updated2019-07-14T03:32:52Z
dc.description.abstractAbstract Background There is growing awareness of the need for effective prevention, early detection, and novel treatment approaches for common mental disorders (CMDs) among university students. Reliable epidemiological data on prevalence and correlates are the cornerstones of planning and implementing effective health services and adopting a public health approach to student wellness. Yet, there is a comparative lack of sound psychiatric epidemiological studies on CMDs among university students in low- and middle-income countries, like South Africa (SA). It is also unclear if historically marginalised groups of students are at increased risk for mental health problems in post-apartheid SA. The objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of lifetime and 12-month CMDs among university students in SA, with a particular focus on vulnerability among students in historically excluded and marginalised segments of the population. Methods Data were collected via self-report measures in an online survey of first-year students registered at two large universities (n = 1402). CMDs were assessed with previously-validated screening scales. Data were weighted and analysed using multivariate statistical methods. Results A total of 38.5% of respondents reported at least one lifetime CMD, the most common being major depressive disorder (24.7%). Twelve-month prevalence of any CMD was 31.5%, with generalised anxiety disorder being the most common (20.8%). The median age of onset for any disorder was 15 years. The median proportional annual persistence of any disorder was 80.0%. Female students, students who reported an atypical sexual orientation, and students with disabilities were at significantly higher risk of any lifetime or 12-month disorder. Female gender, atypical sexual orientation, and disability were associated with elevated risk of internalising disorders, whereas male gender, identifying as White, and reporting an atypical sexual orientation were associated with elevated risk of externalising disorders. Older age, atypical sexual orientation, and disability were associated with elevated risk of bipolar spectrum disorder. Conclusions Despite advances to promote greater social inclusion in post-apartheid SA, students who identify as female, students with atypical sexual orientations, and students with disabilities are nonetheless at increased risk of CMDs, although students who identify as Black and first-generation students are not.
dc.identifier.apacitationBantjes, J., Lochner, C., Saal, W., Roos, J., Taljaard, L., Page, D., ... Stein, D. J. (2019). Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of common mental disorders among first-year university students in post-apartheid South Africa: implications for a public mental health approach to student wellness. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30680en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationBantjes, Jason, Christine Lochner, Wylene Saal, Janine Roos, Lian Taljaard, Daniel Page, Randy P Auerbach, et al "Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of common mental disorders among first-year university students in post-apartheid South Africa: implications for a public mental health approach to student wellness." (2019) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30680en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBMC Public Health. 2019 Jul 10;19(1):922
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Bantjes, Jason AU - Lochner, Christine AU - Saal, Wylene AU - Roos, Janine AU - Taljaard, Lian AU - Page, Daniel AU - Auerbach, Randy P AU - Mortier, Philippe AU - Bruffaerts, Ronny AU - Kessler, Ronald C AU - Stein, Dan J AB - Abstract Background There is growing awareness of the need for effective prevention, early detection, and novel treatment approaches for common mental disorders (CMDs) among university students. Reliable epidemiological data on prevalence and correlates are the cornerstones of planning and implementing effective health services and adopting a public health approach to student wellness. Yet, there is a comparative lack of sound psychiatric epidemiological studies on CMDs among university students in low- and middle-income countries, like South Africa (SA). It is also unclear if historically marginalised groups of students are at increased risk for mental health problems in post-apartheid SA. The objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of lifetime and 12-month CMDs among university students in SA, with a particular focus on vulnerability among students in historically excluded and marginalised segments of the population. Methods Data were collected via self-report measures in an online survey of first-year students registered at two large universities (n = 1402). CMDs were assessed with previously-validated screening scales. Data were weighted and analysed using multivariate statistical methods. Results A total of 38.5% of respondents reported at least one lifetime CMD, the most common being major depressive disorder (24.7%). Twelve-month prevalence of any CMD was 31.5%, with generalised anxiety disorder being the most common (20.8%). The median age of onset for any disorder was 15 years. The median proportional annual persistence of any disorder was 80.0%. Female students, students who reported an atypical sexual orientation, and students with disabilities were at significantly higher risk of any lifetime or 12-month disorder. Female gender, atypical sexual orientation, and disability were associated with elevated risk of internalising disorders, whereas male gender, identifying as White, and reporting an atypical sexual orientation were associated with elevated risk of externalising disorders. Older age, atypical sexual orientation, and disability were associated with elevated risk of bipolar spectrum disorder. Conclusions Despite advances to promote greater social inclusion in post-apartheid SA, students who identify as female, students with atypical sexual orientations, and students with disabilities are nonetheless at increased risk of CMDs, although students who identify as Black and first-generation students are not. DA - 2019-07-10 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Mental health KW - Mental disorders KW - College students KW - University KW - South Africa KW - Social determinants of health LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2019 T1 - Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of common mental disorders among first-year university students in post-apartheid South Africa: implications for a public mental health approach to student wellness TI - Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of common mental disorders among first-year university students in post-apartheid South Africa: implications for a public mental health approach to student wellness UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30680 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7218-y
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/30680
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationBantjes J, Lochner C, Saal W, Roos J, Taljaard L, Page D, et al. Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of common mental disorders among first-year university students in post-apartheid South Africa: implications for a public mental health approach to student wellness. 2019; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30680.en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066en
dc.rights.holderThe Author(s).
dc.subjectMental health
dc.subjectMental disorders
dc.subjectCollege students
dc.subjectUniversity
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subjectSocial determinants of health
dc.titlePrevalence and sociodemographic correlates of common mental disorders among first-year university students in post-apartheid South Africa: implications for a public mental health approach to student wellness
dc.typeJournal Article
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