The relationship between depression symptoms and academic performance among first-year undergraduate students at a South African university: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

South African universities face a challenge of low throughput rates, with most students failing to complete their studies within the minimum regulatory time. Literature has begun to investigate the contribution of well-being, including mental health, with depression among students being one of the most common mental disorders explored. However, locally relevant research exploring associations between depression and academic performance has been limited. This research hypothesizes that the presence of depression symptoms, when controlling for key socio-demographic factors, has an adverse impact on student academic outcomes and contributes to the delay in the academic progression of students.

Methods

The study used a cross-sectional design. Data were collected in 20

SUBMITTER: Wagner F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9651123 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature