A study on the significance of perceived causes of depression among university students in Uganda : a case study of five public universities in Uganda

Abstract

Depression is a mood disorder that affects the victim’s feelings and it is usually accompanied by symptoms such as loss of appetite, moodiness, anxiety among several others. In Uganda, when someone shows any of the signs and symptoms of depression, conclusions are usually made about the cause. There is a gap in literature on depression in low developing countries which makes it hard to ascertain its full nature. This study aims at determining the significance of perceived causes of depression among university students in Uganda which are either demographic or socio-economic in nature. Primary data was used for the study and questionnaires were used for data collection from students in five Ugandan public universities and the sample was randomly selected. Analysis was done on the data collected using excel and Stata as the main tools. Average body weight, residential status and political standing of a student in the university were found to have a significant impact on the rate of depression. i recommend addition of good health practices such as daily workouts and healthy eating for all students, residences for students should be decided based on which provides less pressure on the student and joining politics should be in favor of the students overall performance and lifestyle.