Depression, Hostility and Substance Use Among University Students in Jordan

Abstract

Background:

University student became a target population for number of research studies due to increased number and types of mental and psychosocial problems that they suffer from.

Objective:

To examine the relationship between depression, hostility and substance use among university students in Jordan.

Study design:

Descriptive correlation study. Data collected on demographics, depression, hostility, and substance use from 572 university students in Jordan.

Results:

Almost 75% of the university students had mild to severe depression. Tobacco, pain killers, stimulants, tranquilizers, inhalants, and alcohol respectively were the most used substances. Depression was negatively correlated with hostility(r = .10, p= .04) and tobacco use (r =.19, p < .001). Depression level has positive correlation with frequency of using pain killers, inhalants, stimulants, tranquilizers, and heroine (p < .05). Male and female university students were not different in their depression scores, hostility, and frequency of substance use.

Conclusions:

Depression, hostility and substance use were correlated. Mental health care providers have to understand the impact of depression among university students in Jordan.