The prevalence of depression among students in Chinese universities over the past decade: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: Morbidity rate of depression among students in Chinese universities over the pass
\n10 years was evaluated to reveal the prevalence of depression within the group. Providing
\nreference for future implement of anti-depression measures in universities. Methods: Multiple
\nelectronic databases were searched including Pubmed, Ebase, the Cochcrane Library, Chinese
\nNational Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Weipu Database. Cross sectional
\nstudies reporting on the prevalence of depression among students in Chinese universities
\nwere included. The extracted data was then Meta analyzed by R.3.6.1 software. Results: 37
\nvalidated studies with a total sample of 52,622 participants were covered. The prevalence of
\ndepression among students in Chinese universities over the pass 10 years ranged within 8.00%-
\n74%. The pooled morbidity rate by random-effects model was 31.38% (95%Cl=26.31%,
\n36.44%). Subgroup analysis implicated the research outcome is influenced by gender, region,
\ngrade, place of birth and the quality of the study. Conclusion: An increasing tendency of the
\nprevalence of depression among students in Chinese universities over the pass 10 years was
\nconcluded, Greater awareness was suggested to universities considering the psychiatric health
\nof students.