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Prevalence of Depression among Chinese University Students: A Meta-Analysis

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  • Xian-Yang Lei
  • La-Mei Xiao
  • Ya-Nan Liu
  • Ya-Min Li

Abstract

Background: Depression is a major mental health issue worldwide, and university students with heavy burdens of study are at a high risk for depression. While a number of studies have been conducted regarding depression among university students in China, there is a lack of information regarding the national prevalence of depression among Chinese university students. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to statistically pool the prevalence of depression among Chinese university students. Methods: A systematic search of scientific databases was conducted, including Chinese Web of Knowledge, Embase, PubMed, Wanfang (a Chinese database) and Weipu (a Chinese database) to find relevant publications published between 1995 and December 2015. This was supplemented by a secondary review of the reference lists of all retrieved papers to find additional relevant citations. Studies published in either English or Chinese that provided prevalence estimates of depression in Chinese university students were considered. Prevalence estimates of each eligible study were extracted and pooled in our meta-analysis using a random-effects model. Results: A total of 39 studies conducted between 1997 and 2015 including 32,694 university students were analyzed. Our results indicate that the overall prevalence of depression among Chinese university students is 23.8% (95% CI: 19.9%–28.5%). Substantial heterogeneity in prevalence estimates was noted. Subgroup analysis revealed that the prevalence of depression among medical students is higher than among other students. Conclusions: Overall, the prevalence of depression among Chinese university students is exceedingly high. This suggests that it is imperative that more attention be given to the development of appropriate mental healthcare strategies for university students in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Xian-Yang Lei & La-Mei Xiao & Ya-Nan Liu & Ya-Min Li, 2016. "Prevalence of Depression among Chinese University Students: A Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(4), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0153454
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153454
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    1. Zhang, Yueyun & Liu, Baozhong, 2021. "Body weight perception and depressive symptoms in Chinese college students," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    2. Zhongyu Ren & Jianhua Cao & Peng Cheng & Dongzhe Shi & Bing Cao & Guang Yang & Siyu Liang & Fang Du & Nan Su & Miao Yu & Chaowei Zhang & Yaru Wang & Rui Liang & Liya Guo & Li Peng, 2020. "Association between Breakfast Consumption and Depressive Symptoms among Chinese College Students: A Cross-Sectional and Prospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-10, February.
    3. Jie Zhang & Xiangli Gu & Xiaoxia Zhang & Jihye Lee & Mei Chang & Tao Zhang, 2021. "Longitudinal Effects of Motivation and Physical Activity on Depressive Symptoms among College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-11, May.
    4. Yonghua Chen & Xi Liu & Dorothy T. Chiu & Ying Li & Baibing Mi & Yue Zhang & Lu Ma & Hong Yan, 2022. "Problematic Social Media Use and Depressive Outcomes among College Students in China: Observational and Experimental Findings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, April.
    5. Shuo Cheng & Cunxian Jia & Yongjie Wang, 2020. "Only Children Were Associated with Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms among College Students in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-14, June.
    6. Jiazhou Wang & Yueyue Zhou & Yiming Liang & Zhengkui Liu, 2019. "A Large Sample Survey of Tibetan People on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau: Current Situation of Depression and Risk Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-15, December.
    7. Xuan Ning & Josephine Pui-Hing Wong & Silang Huang & Yina Fu & Xiaojie Gong & Lizeng Zhang & Carla Hilario & Kenneth Po-Lun Fung & Miao Yu & Maurice Kwong-Lai Poon & Shengli Cheng & Jianguo Gao & Cun-, 2022. "Chinese University Students’ Perspectives on Help-Seeking and Mental Health Counseling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-13, July.
    8. Shegang Zhou & Lin Jin & Xiaoxian Liu & Xiaosheng Ding & Xiangru Zhu, 2022. "Developmental Trajectory of Depressive Symptoms in Chinese College Students: Latent Classes and Gender Effect," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-12, March.
    9. Zainab Fatehi Albikawi, 2023. "Anxiety, Depression, Self-Esteem, Internet Addiction and Predictors of Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization among Female Nursing University Students: A Cross Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, February.
    10. Xiaowei Jiang & Yanan Chen & Na Ao & Yang Xiao & Feng Du, 2022. "A Depression-Risk Mental Pattern Identified by Hidden Markov Model in Undergraduates," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, November.
    11. Shuo Cheng & Di An & Zhiying Yao & Jenny Jing-Wen Liu & Xuan Ning & Josephine Pui-Hing Wong & Kenneth Po-Lun Fung & Mandana Vahabi & Maurice Kwong-Lai Poon & Janet Yamada & Shengli Cheng & Jianguo Gao, 2021. "Association between Mental Health Knowledge Level and Depressive Symptoms among Chinese College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, February.
    12. Fengxia Zhu & Yueyun Zhang & Qi Li & Yuanyao Xu & Baozhong Liu, 2022. "Families, Schools, and the Longitudinal Changes in Psychological Distress among College Students during the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from a National Panel Survey in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, October.

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