ArticleBMC psychiatry2020
Factors associated with mental distress among undergraduate students in northern Tanzania.
Article in BMC psychiatry, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06128512 (Evaluating the Efficacy of Auricular Acupuncture in Reducing Examination Anxiety Among Medical Students), which is not on this map. Cited by 27 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Evaluating the Efficacy of Auricular Acupuncture in Reducing Examination Anxiety Among Medical Students
Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 90 citations in OpenAlex.
- Structural and health system determinants of mental health in Tanzania: mapping policy recommendations to the WHO comprehensive mental health action plan 2013-2030.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- Factors associated with mental health disorders in undergraduate students: A meta-analysis.Narra J · 2025Pooled it
- Prevalence of depression among medical students in Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2024Pooled it
- Rest Intolerance, Emotional Distress, Insomnia, and Adaptive Coping Strategies: A Validation and Serial Mediation Analysis Study.The Psychiatric quarterly · 2026Article
- Mental health patterns and associated social determinants among university and college students in sub-Saharan Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic era: a scoping review.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Prevalence, Symptoms, and Associated Risk Factors for Depressive Symptoms Among Undergraduate Students of Non-Medical Universities in Mwanza, Tanzania.Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Investigating health literacy and sociodemographic factors in college students.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Mapping the multidimensional factors of medical student resilience development: A scoping review.BMC medical education · 2025Article
- Prevalence and associated factors of mental distress among private college nursing students in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Article
- Mental distress and associated factors among undergraduate students: evidence from a cross-sectional study at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania.Discover mental health · 2024Article
- Developing the PEAK mood, mind, and marks program to support university students' mental and cognitive health through physical exercise: a qualitative study using the Behaviour Change Wheel.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Mental health disorders among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic in the area with no mandatory lockdown: a multicenter survey in Tanzania.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- A pilot study of a new app based on self-compassion for the prevention and promotion of mental health among Brazilian college students.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Article
- Investigating war trauma, its effects, and associated risk factors on anxiety among high school students in Woldia town, northeast Ethiopia, 2022.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2024Article
- Article
- Psychological disturbances encountered by selected undergraduates studying at the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka during the Covid-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Sociodemographic characteristics, social support, and family history as factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among young adult senior high school students in metro Manila, Philippines, during the COVID-19 pandemic.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Article
- The Effect of Auriculotherapy on Situational Anxiety Trigged by Examinations: A Randomized Pilot Trial.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Association between psychological distress and coping strategies among students engaged in online learning.PloS one · 2022Article
- The Professional Identity and Career Attitude of Chinese Medical Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey in China.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMental distress is a major public health problem which includes anxiety, depression and somatic symptoms such as sleeping problems, fatigue and headache. University students are consistently reported to have higher levels of mental distress compared to the general population. Although university students with mental distress have significantly impaired cognitive functioning, learning disabilities and poor academic performance, the burden of this problem in Tanzania is unknown. This study aimed to determine prevalence and factors associated with mental distress among undergraduate students in northern Tanzania.
methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College from April-July 2018. Simple random sampling technique using probability proportional to size was used to sample students from their respective classes. Mental distress was screened using the self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20). Data was analyzed using Stata version 15.1. Frequencies and percentages were used to summarize categorical variables while mean and standard deviation for numeric variables. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with mental distress adjusted for potential confounders.
resultsA total of 402 undergraduate students participated in this study, 14% screened positive for mental distress. Residing off-campus (OR = 0.44, 95%CI 0.20-0.96) and perceived availability of social support (OR = 0.22, 95%CI 0.11-0.45) reduced the odds of mental distress while students with family history of mental distress (OR = 2.60, 95%CI 1.04-6.57) and those with decreased grades than anticipated (OR = 3.61, 95%CI 1.91-6.83) had higher likelihood of mental distress.
conclusionOne in every ten students screened was positive for mental distress. Those who reported a family history of mental illness and lower grades than anticipated had higher response of mental distress. To relieve students from stress and frustrations related to studies and their lives in general, this study recommends awareness creation, counselling to help those with mental health issues, establishment of student drop-in centers for such services and promotion of social and recreational activities at the college.
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