University Students’ States of Having Depressive Symptoms and Hopefulness About Getting Employed After Graduation

Year 2024, Volume: 16 Issue: 1, 7 - 14, 30.04.2024

Belgin Oral , Arda Borlu , Seçkin Özsaydı

Abstract

Introduction: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their levels of hope regarding employment after graduation among university students in Turkey, and the related factors of these.
Methods: The research was conducted in 2018 at a state university in Turkey, involving 1,093 students from four different faculties: Dentistry, Architecture, Law, and Fine Arts. The dependent variables were the participants' levels of hope regarding employment and their scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Independent variables included gender, age, faculty, economic status, health issues, smoking, alcohol consumption, academic achievement, and school satisfaction. Pearson chi-square test, t-test, and one-way ANOVA (with post hoc Tukey test) were used to evaluate relationships between dependent and independent variables.
Findings: A significant portion of students in architecture and fine arts faculties reported experiencing depressive symptoms. Higher levels of depressive symptoms were observed among students who expressed no hope of finding employment after graduation. Inadequate financial support, dissatisfaction with body image, academic failure, and weak relationships with family and/or friends were associated with both job hopelessness and higher levels of depressive symptoms among university students. Interestingly, both the prevalence of job hopefulness and depressive symptoms were higher among first-year students compared to other academic levels.
Conclusion: The study reveals the widespread prevalence of job hopelessness and depressive symptoms among university students in Turkey. Targeted interventions, including career planning support and orientation programs, especially in the first year, could be beneficial in improving the mental well-being and future expectations of university students.

Keywords

students, university, employment, hope, depressive symptom

Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Depresif Belirtilere ve Mezuniyet Sonrası İş Bulma Umuduna Sahip Olma Durumları

Abstract

Giriş: Bu kesitsel araştırmada, Türkiye'deki üniversite öğrencileri arasında depresif belirtilerin yaygınlığını ve mezuniyet sonrası istihdama ilişkin umut düzeyini ve bunların ilişkili olabileceği faktörleri değerlendirmeyi amaçlamıştır.
Yöntemler: Araştırma, 2018 yılında Türkiye'deki bir devlet üniversitesinde gerçekleştirildi ve Diş Hekimliği, Mimarlık, Hukuk ve Güzel Sanatlar olmak üzere dört farklı fakülteden 1.093 öğrenci dahil edildi. Katılımcıların istihdama ilişkin umut düzeyleri ve Beck Depresyon Envanteri (BDE) puanları bağımlı değişkenlerdir. Cinsiyet, yaş, fakülte, ekonomik durum, sağlık sorunları, sigara içme, alkol tüketimi, akademik başarı ve okul memnuniyeti ise bağımsız değişkenlerdir. Bağımlı ve bağımsız değişkenler arasındaki ilişkileri değerlendirmek için Pearson ki-kare testi, t testi ve tek yönlü ANOVA (post hoc Tukey testi ile) testleri kullanılmıştır.
Bulgular: Mimarlık ve güzel sanatlar fakültelerindeki öğrencilerin önemli bir kısmı depresif belirtiler yaşadığını bildirdi. Mezun olduktan sonra iş bulma umudunun olmadığını ifade eden öğrencilerde daha yüksek düzeyde depresif belirtiler görüldü. Yetersiz harçlık, beden imajından memnuniyetsizlik, akademik başarısızlık ve aile ve/veya arkadaşlarla zayıf ilişkiler, üniversite öğrencileri arasında hem iş konusunda umutsuzluk hem de daha yüksek düzeyde depresif belirtilerle ilişkili bulunmuştur. İlginç bir şekilde, hem işe dair umutluluğun hem de depresif belirtilerin yaygınlığı birinci sınıf öğrencileri arasında diğer akademik seviyelere göre daha yüksekti.
Sonuç: Çalışmada, Türkiye'de üniversite öğrencileri arasında istihdama ilişkin umutsuzluğun ve depresif belirtilerin yaygın olduğu görülmüştür. İlk yıl boyunca kariyer planlama desteği ve oryantasyon eğitimi de dahil olmak üzere hedefe yönelik müdahaleler, üniversite öğrencilerinin zihinsel refahını ve gelecek beklentilerini iyileştirmede faydalı olabilir.

Keywords

öğrenci, üniversite, iş bulma, umut, depresif semptomlar

Supporting Institution

destekleyen kurum bulunmamaktadır

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