Meta-analysis of prevalence and associated factors of depressive symptoms in Chinese college students before and after the COVID-19 epidemic

Abstract

Objective To explore the prevalence and related factors of depressive symptoms in Chinese college students before and after the COVID-19 epidemic and to provide a reference for mental health education and management.

Methods Database of PubMed, Cochrane, CBM, WanFang, CNKI and CIP were searched for the studies on depressive symptoms in Chinese college students using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) or the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES–D). All the literatures were classified according to the publication time before and after the epidemic around January 2020. Meta-analysis was performed by using Stata15.1.

Results There were 26 articles before the epidemic, with a total sample size of 76 816 participants, and 18 articles after the epidemic, with a total sample size of 102 653 participants. The detection rate of depressive symptoms in college students after the epidemic was higher than that before the epidemic (35.7%, 30.9%). Fifteen factors were included in the Meta-analysis. There was a positive correlation between being third year in college and college students before the epidemic ( OR = 1.27). Before and after the epidemic, being fourth year in college, introvert personality, breakfast skipping, physically unhealthy, poor family economy, single parent, staying up late and poor sleep quality were all positively correlated with depression of college students ( OR = 1.44, 1.35; 1.68, 2.01; 3.33, 3.03; 2.21, 4.99; 1.80, 1.89; 2.33, 1.92; 1.53, 3.08; 2.23, 2.97), while high social support and physical exercise were negatively correlated with depression for depressive symptoms in college students ( OR = 0.57, 0.55; 0.78, 0.60) ( P<0.05).

Conclusion The detection rate of depressive symptoms among college students after the epidemic is higher. The effect of introversion, physical exercise, physically unhealthy, poor sleep quality and staying up late are higher after pandemic compared than before the epidemic. The targeted mental intervention and health education should be strengthened.

Abstract

【摘要】 目的 探讨新冠肺炎疫情发生前后中国大学生抑郁症状的检出率和相关因素的变化, 为心理健康教育及科学管 理提供参考依据。 方法 检索 PubMed、Cochrane、CBM、WanFang、CNKI 和 CIP 数据库, 收集有关中国大学生抑郁相关因素 的文献, 以文献调査时间在 2020 年 1 月前后判定疫情前后, 研究工具限用抑郁自评量表或流调用抑郁量表, 运用 Stata 15.1 软件进行 Meta 分析。 结果 纳人疫情前文献 26 篇, 样本量共 76 816 人, 疫情后文献 18 篇, 样本量共 102 653 人。疫情后 大学生抑郁症状检出率髙于疫情前 (35.7%, 30.9%), 15 个因素被纳人 Meta 分析, 疫情前大三年级与大学生抑郁症状呈正 相关 ( OR =1.27); 疫情前后大四年级、性格内向、不吃早餐、身体不健康、家庭经济差、单亲家庭、熬夜、睡眠质量差均与大学 生抑郁呈正相关 ( OR 值分别为 1.44, 1.35; 1.68, 2.01; 3.33, 3.03; 2.21, 4.99; 1.80, 1.89; 2.33, 1.92; 1.53, 3.08; 2.23, 2.97), 髙社 会支持、体育锻炼均与其呈负相关 ( OR 值分别为 0.57, 0.55; 0.78, 0.60) ( P 值均<0.05)。 结论 新冠肺炎疫情后大学生抑 郁症状的检出率较髙, 性格内向、体育锻炼、身体不健康、睡眠质量差和熬夜对其影响髙于疫情前。应针对性加强心理干预 和健康教育。