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Family and College Environmental Exposures Mediate the Relationship between Parental Education and Depression among College Students

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  • Hui Zhai
  • Lu Chen
  • Yanjie Yang
  • Hailian Sun
  • Hui Pan
  • Jincai He
  • Xiongzhao Zhu
  • Hong Sui
  • Wenbo Wang
  • Xiaohui Qiu
  • Zhengxue Qiao
  • Xiuxian Yang
  • Jiarun Yang
  • Yunmiao Yu
  • Bo Ban
  • Changzhi He

Abstract

Background: Depression is a major health concern for college students due to its substantial morbidity and mortality. Although low parental education has been identified as a factor in depression in college students, the mechanisms through which parental educational achievement affects students’ depression are not well understood. We tested whether adverse family and college environments mediate the relationship between parental educational level and depression among Chinese college students. Methods: A total of 5180 respondents were selected using a cross-sectional survey. We examined the association of parental education, adverse family and college environments with depression in college students using the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist, Beck Depression Inventory and socio-demographic questionnaires. Results: Lower parental educational level is significantly correlated with depression in college students in our sample. Additionally, low family economic status, paternal or maternal unemployment, long periods spent apart from family, family conflicts, having been scolded and beaten by parents, poor or dissatisfying test performance, conflict with friends, heavy course load and failure in selection processes are also associated with parental education. Low family economic status, paternal or maternal unemployment, long periods spent apart from family, family conflicts, poor or dissatisfying test performance, conflict with friends and heavy course load mediated the relationship between parental education and depression in college students. Conclusions: Adverse family and college environments could explain the influence of parental educational level on depression in college students.

Suggested Citation

  • Hui Zhai & Lu Chen & Yanjie Yang & Hailian Sun & Hui Pan & Jincai He & Xiongzhao Zhu & Hong Sui & Wenbo Wang & Xiaohui Qiu & Zhengxue Qiao & Xiuxian Yang & Jiarun Yang & Yunmiao Yu & Bo Ban & Changzhi, 2016. "Family and College Environmental Exposures Mediate the Relationship between Parental Education and Depression among College Students," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-9, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0151759
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151759
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Goodman, E. & Slap, G.B. & Huang, B., 2003. "The Public Health Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Adolescent Depression and Obesity," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(11), pages 1844-1850.
    2. Stefan Fors & Carin Lennartsson & Olle Lundberg, 2009. "Childhood Living Conditions, Socioeconomic Position in Adulthood, and Cognition in Later Life: Exploring the Associations," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 64(6), pages 750-757.
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    1. Tebu Oghenerukevwe & Soter Ameh & Adedayo O. Tella, 2022. "Pattern and Determinants of Depression Among Students Attending Tertiary Institutions in Rivers State, NigeriaPattern and Determinants of Depression Among Students Attending Tertiary Institutions in R," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 6(12), pages 529-535, December.
    2. Patou Masika Musumari & Arunrat Tangmunkongvorakul & Kriengkrai Srithanaviboonchai & Teeranee Techasrivichien & S Pilar Suguimoto & Masako Ono-Kihara & Masahiro Kihara, 2018. "Grit is associated with lower level of depression and anxiety among university students in Chiang Mai, Thailand: A cross-sectional study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-16, December.

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