Latent Class Of Depressive Symptoms Of And Its Determinants: A Cross Sectional Study Among Iranian University Students

Background: According to the report of the World Health Organization, mental disorders are one of the ۱۰ most important causes of disability in the world. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the number and frequency of latent classes of depression and its determinants in Isfahan university of medical students. Materials and methods: A total of ۱۴۰۸ medical students from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, were enrolled in the study in ۲۰۱۷. The symptoms and severity of depression were assessed using the standard HADS questionnaire. Latent class analysis was applied to ۷ symptoms of depression, all of which had ۴ levels. Latent class subgroups were compared using chi-square test and ANOVA-test. Regression model was used to check the relationship between identified classes and related factors. Analyzes were done using SPSS-۲۱ & Mplus۷ software. Results: In this study, three Latent class were identified, that is, the group of healthy people, the group of borderline people and the group of people suspected of depression. The prevalence of identified latent classes among medical students is ۰.۵۲, ۰.۳۲ and ۰.۱۶% respectively. The regression results showed that compared to the healthy group, the factors affecting depression in the borderline and suspicious group were Increasing age, female gender, interest in the field of study, Physical activity, history of depression and history of anxiety. Conclusion: The three classes that were identified based on the students' answers to the depression symptoms questions differed only based on severity. History of depression and anxiety were the strongest predictors of latent classes of depression. Keywords: depression, Latent Class Analysis, University students

کلیدواژه ها:

depression ، Latent Class Analysis ، University students