Prevalence and factors associated with depression and suicidal ideation among French students in 2016: A national study

Ariel Frajerman; Astrid Chevance; Boris Chaumette; Yannick Morvan

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115263

Prevalence and factors associated with depression and suicidal ideation among French students in 2016: A national study

Psychiatry Res. 2023 Aug:326:115263. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115263. Epub 2023 May 30.

Authors

Ariel Frajerman¹, Astrid Chevance², Boris Chaumette³, Yannick Morvan⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Psychiatry and Neurosciences de Paris, INSERM UMR 1266, Pathophysiology of Psychiatric Diseases, University of Paris, 75014 Paris, France; Institute of Psychiatry GDR 3557 of Psychiatry, 75014 Paris, France; MOODS Team, INSERM U1178, CESP, Université Paris-Saclay, Faculté de Médecine Paris- Saclay, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, F-94275, France; Service Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de Bicêtre, Mood Center Paris Saclay, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Saclay, Hôpital de Bicêtre, F-94275, France. Electronic address: ariel.frajerman@inserm.fr.
² Center for Research and Epidemiology and Statistics, Université de Paris, Inserm UMR 1153 Hôtel Dieu, Paris; Service d'épidémiologie clinique, Hôpitaux Paris Centre, APHP, Paris.
³ Institute of Psychiatry and Neurosciences de Paris, INSERM UMR 1266, Pathophysiology of Psychiatric Diseases, University of Paris, 75014 Paris, France; Institute of Psychiatry GDR 3557 of Psychiatry, 75014 Paris, France; PEPIT, GHU Paris Psychiatrie et Neurosciences, 75014 Paris, France; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
⁴ Université Paris Nanterre, UFR SPSE, laboratoire CLIPSYD, UR4430; Inserm U1018, CESP, Equipe Psychiatrie du développement et trajectoires.

PMID: 37295352
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115263

Abstract

Depression is one of the leading causes of morbidity worldwide and increases the risk of suicide. Students are known as a population at risk for depression. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of 12 months major depressive episode (MDE) and suicidal thoughts in French students and investigate associated factors. A questionnaire was sent by email to a representative sample of the French student population between April 28th and June 27th 2016. MDE was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form (CIDI-SF). The response rate was 18.7% (N= 18,875). Prevalence of 12 months MDE was 15.8%, and suicidal thoughts was 9%. Factors associated with MDE were being a woman, study field (law/eco, human/social sciences, and medical), having failed midterms exams or dropout, refusal or stop social scholarship, and subjective financial difficulties. Factors associated with suicidal thoughts were study field (human/social sciences), having failed midterms exams or dropout, and important subjective financial difficulties. The use of CIDI-SF allows comparison with the 2017 French national study, and showed more MDE in students than in the general population. This is the only national study on French students before COVID 19 pandemic.

Keywords: Depression; Mental health; Students; Suicidal ideation.

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Depression / epidemiology
Depressive Disorder, Major* / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Students
Suicidal Ideation