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| Research article summary (published 27 Feb 2002): |
Psychological distress among students from five universities in Sri Lanka.
Full Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the proportion of university students that are psychologically distressed when compared to an age and sex matched population sample and to describe the factors that may contribute to their distress.
DESIGN:
A cross-sectional comparison study.
METHODS:
The general health questionnaire (GHQ 30), previously validated in Sinhala, was administered as a screening test to random samples of undergraduates in 5 universities. Age and sex matched controls from the respective communities were also administered the screening test. The undergraduates also filled in a pre-tested questionnaire with personal details. Chi-square tests were used to determine statistical significance between groups.
RESULTS:
Among the undergraduates, 104 (39.8%) had scores for psychological distress whereas only 67 (25.7%) from the community sample had scores for similar distress. This difference was significant (p = 0.0007). A significantly greater proportion (p = 0.009) of those entering from rural schools were psychologically distressed than those from suburban and urban schools, and a greater proportion living in rented rooms and hostels were (p = 0.001) distressed than those travelling from their homes.
CONCLUSIONS:
The psychological distress among undergraduates was significantly greater than among the general population. More students who enter from rural schools seem to be distressed than those who enter from suburban and urban schools.
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Author information
Author/s: Kuruppuarachchi, K A L A (KA); Kuruppuarachchi, K A J M (KA); Wijerathne, S (S); Williams, S S (SS);
Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya.
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article
Journal: The Ceylon medical journal (Ceylon Med J), published in Sri Lanka. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2002-Mar; vol 47 (issue 1) : pp 13-5
Dates: Created 2002/05/10; Completed 2002/06/18; Revised 2004/12/08;
PMID: 12001598, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
Comments and Corrections
CommentIn: Ceylon Med J. 2002 Jun;47(2):74-5. (PMID: 12140890)
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