Investigating of the Prevalence of Depression Among University Students and the Association of Meaning in Life with Depression and Happiness

Farzaneh Mikaeli Manee¹ Bayan Rahimi² Sheler Ab khiz³

1) Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature & Humanities, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
2) Masters graduate of General Psychology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
3) Masters graduate of Educational Psychology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.

IOI Code : XEAC-GCBEG
Publication : 1st International Conference and 2nd National Conference on Psychology and Religion(cpruma.ir)
Abstract :
    The purpose of the current study was investigating of the prevalence of depression among students and the association of meaning in life with depression and happiness. The cross-sectional current research was descriptive- correlation. The statistical society of the research was all of the bachelor students of the Kordestan University and 345 people were selected randomly. In order to gathering datas Oxford Happiness Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory – 2nd Edition and Meaning in Life Questionnaire of Steger et al. were used. Pearson Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression through SPSS22 were utilized as statisticalmethods to analysing data. The results revealed that 2% , 3.8% and 94.2% of the students are at the low, moderate and high level of depression, respectively. Additionally, the results of the regression showed that both components of the meaning in life (present meaning in life and searching meaning in life) were able to predict both depression and happiness significantly, together (Depression: R2=0.20, F=43.71, sig=0.000 , and Happiness: R2=0.10, F=19.80, sig=0.000) and separately (Depression: β searching meaning in life =-0.34, t=-6.94, sig=0.000; β present meaning in life =-0.24, t=-4.83,sig=0.000 , and happiness: (β searching meaning in life = 0.23, t=4.43, sig=0.000; β present meaning in life = 0.19, t=3.54, sig=o.ooo). It could be concluded that regarding the considerable prevalency of the depression among students, and the predictive role of the meaning in life in determining variance of depression and happiness, preparations concerning purposefulness of the students and paying attention to factors affecting students perceived meaning in life are necessary.

Keywords : depression students prevalence happiness meaning in life