DEPRESSION IN THE STRUCTURE OF ADJUSTMENT DISORDERS IN FOREIGN APPLICANTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF STUDYING

Abstract

The article highlights the features of depression in foreign students at different stages of education. 154 applicants took part in the study. The base was the Dnipro State Medical University. Depending on the stage of study, all subjects were divided into groups: the 1-st included students of the preparatory department (n=110), the 2-nd – students of 1-2 courses (n=44). The semi-structured clinical interview method with a specially designed questionnaire and the Depression Self-Assessment Scale (Zung WW, 1965) were used to collect data. As a result of the work it was found that 14 (13%) people in group 1 and 9 (20%) people in group 2 had depression, 4 (4%) and 6 (14%) people, respectively, showed signs of subdepression. It was found that all cases of depression, both in group 1 and in group 2, corresponded only to a mild level, which in turn indicated the presence of a depressive state in the adjustment disorders (M (SD)=51.6=1.6)). Comparative analysis of the results showed a significant difference in group 2 only in relation to subdepression, according to Fisher’s exact test. (at bilateral p=0,03). The calculation of the mean values, followed by their analysis on the scale «Self-assessment of depression» showed significantly higher rates in the subjects of group 2 on the Student’s t-test (2.61 with bilateral p=0.01). The increase of this parameter can be regarded as the deepening of the psychopathological state with the transition to a new, more complex stage of studying. The results were confirmed by analyzing the chances of depression in the future. As a result of this work, it was found that applicants in group 2 were 2.6 times more likely to develop depressive and subdepressive states than applicants in group 1. That is, applicants for higher education are a target group for prevention, early diagnosis and correction of primary stages of development of adjustment disorders. This work is only an evidence base, which emphasizes the feasibility and need to develop comprehensive measures to improve the quality of life of the selected contingent of persons.

Keywords

• foreign students,higher education,depression,adjustment disorders,psychometry