Prevalence of depression and perceived psychological, social and emotional causes among final year students in the faculty of social sciences

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to reveal the levels of depression that exists among final year students and also highlight the perceived causes of depression. Much research was done in Western countries, I feel it’s my turn now to conduct local studies and make an addition to local scholarly content. Using an expedient sampling technique, a mock-up of 100 students from Midlands State University faculty of social sciences, were selected and completed the questionnaires of the Beck depression inventory. The researcher chose the sample from six departments available on campus that were psychology, geography and environmental studies, human resources management, local governance, media society studies, music and musicology and politics and public management departments. However due to relocation of politics and public management would not be in the study since they are in Zvishavane campus. The descriptive quantitative research approach was considered appropriate in measuring depression prevalence and the attributed causes behind depression according to the students. Data was entered using Microsoft excel with the aid of graphs and analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The analysis of results showed that most students were depressed as characterised by large scoring found in the results. Limitations of the research include lack the number of people selected to represent a large group. Generally, present study stated that most students in college where at risk of being depressed at some point or another.