Depression, fitness, and student willingness to pursue university counseling and alternative antidepressant options
نویسندگان
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2
3 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
4 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
doi
چکیده
BACKGROUND: Depression prevalence in college students is three to six times higher than USadults. Counseling utilization increased by 30%–40% despite reports of student unwillingness topursue therapy. Pursuance of alternative options, like exercise or meditation, is rarely reported. Thisstudy examined students’ willingness to seek depression treatment through university mental healthservices (UMHS) and alternative options (AO).MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross‑sectional study. Students (n = 780) completeda survey including validated depression and estimated cardiorespiratory fitness instruments. Yes/Maybe/No responses regarding willingness to seek UMHS and AO were analyzed for associationswith demographics, depression status, and fitness level. Descriptive and inferential analyses wereemployed.RESULTS: Students were more likely to select “Yes” for AO than UMHS (Χ2 = 104.145,P < 0.001). Low‑fit students (Χ2 = 8.35, P = 0.02) and those in depression treatment (Χ2 = 15.182,P < 0.001) selected “Yes” to UMHS more often than expected. Younger (Χ2 = 7.893, P = 0.02),nondepressed (Χ2 = 7.355, P = 0.03), and fit students (Χ2 = 10.617, P = 0.005) chose “Yes” whilemales selected “No” (Χ2 = 8.99, P = 0.01) more often than expected for AO. Approximately 31% ofstudents reported having moderate‑to‑severe depression, 7.8% were in treatment, and 55% wereclassified as having low fitness levels.CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study should be considered when developing antidepressantprogramming on university campuses.
