The Role of Family Environment in Depressive Symptoms among University Students: A Large Sample Survey in China

Although there are studies showing that higher education would benefit university students, empirical research that comprehensively assesses student general education learning outcomes and related demographic correlates based on longitudinal data is minimal, especially in the Chinese context. To address the research gaps, the present study was conducted to investigate learning outcomes amongst university students in one university in Hong Kong based on a four-year longitudinal design (N = 460). Four dimensions of student general education learning outcomes were measured, including effective reasoning and problem solving, leadership, moral character, and integration of learning. Results suggested a U-shaped pattern of student learning outcomes for most dimensions, with no improvement or even a decrement in the second year and a steady growth thereafter. While family background did not affect student development, gender showed a significant moderating effect on students' development in two dimensions (i.e., effective reasoning and problem solving, and integration of learning). These findings suggest that students benefit from general education-embedded university study in multiple dimensions, especially after the first year of transition period. Practical implications of the findings and future research directions were also discussed.Applied Research Quality Life

AbstractÖz Purpose: This study was performed to determine the prevalence of depression and to investigate the correlation between sociodemographic, individual and health-related factors and depression. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 618 university students. Participants of the study were first year female students of Vocational School of Health Services, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine in the health campus of Dokuz Eylül University in İzmir, Turkey. Data were collected by Beck Depression Inventory and Student Identification Form. Chi-square test, independent samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test, one way ANOVA test and logistic regression analysis were used for the statistical analyses.

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