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Association between Current Substance Use, Healthy Behaviors, and Depression among Ukrainian College Students

Author

Listed:
  • Julia Burlaka

    (Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205-1996, USA)

  • Renee M. Johnson

    (Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205-1996, USA)

  • Christina N. Marsack-Topolewski

    (School of Social Work, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA)

  • Kathryn Hughesdon

    (School of Nursing, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA)

  • Jill Owczarzak

    (Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205-1996, USA)

  • Oleksii Serdiuk

    (Research Lab for Psychological Support of Law Enforcement, Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, 61080 Kharkiv, Ukraine)

  • Roman Bogdanov

    (Research Lab for Psychological Support of Law Enforcement, Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, 61080 Kharkiv, Ukraine)

  • Viktor Burlaka

    (School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA)

Abstract

Depression is a pervasive issue among college students worldwide, yet there is a significant gap in the literature regarding its prevalence and coping strategies in the Ukrainian context. The present study aims to fill this gap by investigating how substance use and health-promoting behaviors relate to depressive symptoms among Ukrainian college students. Health-promoting behaviors are an important strategy to prevent depression, whereas substance use can contribute to depression or make it harder to manage. Given the substantial psychosocial problems and stressors related to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the limited availability of mental health services for college students, it is important to understand how we can encourage college students to keep themselves mentally healthy. A cross-sectional study was conducted among college students on 10 campuses in 2018. Almost 16% of participants met a cut-off for depression. Female students and those who were older reported significantly higher depressive symptoms. Participants were more likely to report depressive symptoms if they were more often involved with alcohol and cannabis use, were older, and engaged in fewer health-promoting behaviors. Tobacco use was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Our findings suggest a moderate prevalence of depressive symptoms in our study population. We recommend implementing balanced public health interventions that address risk factors (such as substance use) while also promoting protective behaviors and can be tailored to the specific cultural and environmental context of the region.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Burlaka & Renee M. Johnson & Christina N. Marsack-Topolewski & Kathryn Hughesdon & Jill Owczarzak & Oleksii Serdiuk & Roman Bogdanov & Viktor Burlaka, 2024. "Association between Current Substance Use, Healthy Behaviors, and Depression among Ukrainian College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(5), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:5:p:586-:d:1387839
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eisenberg Daniel & Golberstein Ezra & Hunt Justin B, 2009. "Mental Health and Academic Success in College," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 9(1), pages 1-37, September.
    2. Jieyu Chen & Hongjie Xiang & Pingping Jiang & Lin Yu & Yuan Jing & Fei Li & Shengwei Wu & Xiuqiong Fu & Yanyan Liu & Hiuyee Kwan & Ren Luo & Xiaoshan Zhao & Xiaomin Sun, 2017. "The Role of Healthy Lifestyle in the Implementation of Regressing Suboptimal Health Status among College Students in China: A Nested Case-Control Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Enrique Ramón-Arbués & Vicente Gea-Caballero & José Manuel Granada-López & Raúl Juárez-Vela & Begoña Pellicer-García & Isabel Antón-Solanas, 2020. "The Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Stress and Their Associated Factors in College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-15, September.
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