Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs > v.38(6) > 1002490

Park: Development of a Structural Equation Model to estimate University Students' Depression

Abstract

Purpose

This study was designed to construct a structural model explaining depression in university students.

Methods

Data were collected from 1,640 university students by questionnaire, and analyzed using AMOS 5.0 to test the hypothetical model.

Results

Fitness statistics for the modified model were GFI=.93, AGFI=.89, NFI=.91, and RMSEA=.081. All the 12 paths in the modified model proved to be statistically significant. Depression of university students accounted for 52% of the covariance by the factors. The factor that had the most influence on depression was individual vulnerability, and followed by sequence order, stress, social support, coping, and self-efficacy. Depression was influenced directly by individual vulnerability, stress, social support, and coping, and indirectly by individual vulnerability, stress, social support, and selfefficacy.

Conclusion

A screening and management system for the high risk group is needed to effectively prevent depression and reduce rate of depression in university students. Detailed support programs which specifically deal with prevailing stressors should be developed to effectively reduce the harmful effects of individual vulnerability and stress. It is anticipated that the model constructed in this study could be utilized as a reference in developing various strategies to prevent and intervene depression in university students.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Hypothetical model.
x1=vulnerability of personality; x2=family history of mood disorder; y1=facing-task stress; y2=interpersonal stress; y3=social support from parents; y4=social support from friends; y5=general self-efficacy; y6=problem solving self-efficacy; y7=problem focused coping; y8=seeking support coping; y9=emotional coping; y10=wishful thought coping; y11=cognitive depression; y12=emotional depression; y13=physiological depression.
jkan-38-779-g001
Figure 2
Path coefficients for the modified model.
**p≤.01.
x1=vulnerability of personality; x2=family history of mood disorder; y1=facing-task stress; y2=interpersonal stress; y3=social support from parents; y4=social support from friends; y5=general self-efficacy; y6=problem solving self-efficacy; y7=problem focused coping; y8=seeking support coping; y9=emotional coping; y10=wishful thought coping; y11=cognitive depression; y12=emotional depression; y13=physiological depression.
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Table 1
Descriptive Statistics for Observed Variables (N=1,640)
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***p<.001; †Kolmogorov-Smirnov, test of normality.

Table 2
Pearson Coefficient Correlations for Measured Variables (N=1,640)
jkan-38-779-i002

*p≤.05; **p≤.01.

Table 3
Parameter Estimates for Modified Structural Model and Standardized Direct, Indirect, and Total Effects in Modified Model (N=1,640)
jkan-38-779-i003

**p≤.01; ***p≤.001.

standardized parameter; critical ratio; §squared multiple correlation.

Notes

This study is a part of Ph.D. thesis.

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