Factors associated with depressive disorders in university students in the health area: an integrative review

Abstract

Depression is a mental disorder that presents itself as one of the main causes of disability in more than 300 million people worldwide. Among this population, students in the health field have increasingly presented depressive disorders, which can result in losses in academic performance and interpersonal relationships. For this reason, the mental health of university students has been the focus of the attention of specialists, since students in the health field do not always receive enough information about mental health and are frequently exposed to stressful situations, leading them to psychic illness and difficulties in patient care. The aim of this study was to investigate, through an integrative review, the factors described in the literature associated with depressive disorders in health students. The analyzed studies show an association between poor sleep quality, lack of leisure and physical activity, inadequate diet, family influence, use of illegal substances, financial difficulties, the fact of being a woman and academic aspects, as predisposing factors for depression among this population.