title: Prevalence of depression and its correlates among undergraduates in Sri Lanka.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a dearth of mental health research on undergraduates in Sri Lanka. This study examines the prevalence of depression in a sample of Sri Lankan undergraduates, their exposure to threatening life events and the predictors of their depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Responses of 4304 undergraduates were obtained on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and a measure of exposure to threatening life events, with binary logistic regression models used to identify the demographic and life event correlates of screening positive for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  PHQ-9 diagnoses of 'Major' and 'Other' depression were obtained by 9.3% and 13.5% of undergraduates, respectively. A higher likelihood of MDD was seen among those who were older and those living in hostels (compared to home), although no differences were seen between genders or those studying in different faculties. Likelihood of MDD was higher in undergraduates exposed to multiple threatening life events as well as those exposed to physical threat; family deaths; romantic break-ups; a problem with a close associate; educational difficulties; unemployment and domestic violence, and among male undergraduates harassed by another student.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MDD is prevalent in these undergraduates and universities need to develop services to assist them. Such services may also need to focus on supporting those who have experienced threatening life events, particularly those that arise as a result of being an undergraduate, as these may increase the risk of MDD.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Sciences Stream, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, P.O. Box 271, 25, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka; Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Victoria 3010, Australia. Electronic address: samara@student.unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Santushi Devini
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Amarasuriya
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Victoria 3010, Australia. Electronic address: ajorm@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Anthony Francis
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Jorm
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Victoria 3010, Australia. Electronic address: nreavley@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Nicola Jane
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Reavley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Depression; Life events; Prevalence; Sri Lanka; Undergraduate; University