Depression among nursing students in an Indian government college

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Depression is a major public health threat that can affect anyone including health professionals and nursing students. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: This analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted among 180 students of a nursing college to find out the burden of depression on them and possible contributing factors using the Beck Depression Inventory. RESULTS: 63.9% of the students were found to be depressed, the majority being mild in grade. First-year students were found to be significantly more affected (P=0.008). Binary logistic regression showed that familial disharmony, disinterest in the course and insecurity about future placement were statistically significant factors behind the development of depression. CONCLUSION: It is imperative that the psychological condition of nursing students be viewed as an important aspect to be considered, particularly within the Indian population and others in which there is a paucity of data.