Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Depression, fitness, and student willingness to pursue university counseling and alternative antidepressant options

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Sharon Jalene
. Jennifer Pharr
. Manoj Sharma
. Brach Poston

Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Depression prevalence in college students is three to six times higher than US
adults. Counseling utilization increased by 30%–40% despite reports of student unwillingness to
pursue therapy. Pursuance of alternative options, like exercise or meditation, is rarely reported. This
study examined students’ willingness to seek depression treatment through university mental health
services (UMHS) and alternative options (AO).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross‑sectional study. Students (n = 780) completed
a survey including validated depression and estimated cardiorespiratory fitness instruments. Yes/
Maybe/No responses regarding willingness to seek UMHS and AO were analyzed for associations
with demographics, depression status, and fitness level. Descriptive and inferential analyses were
employed.
RESULTS: Students were more likely to select “Yes” for AO than UMHS (Χ2 = 104.145,
P < 0.001). Low‑fit students (Χ2 = 8.35, P = 0.02) and those in depression treatment (Χ2 = 15.182,
P < 0.001) selected “Yes” to UMHS more often than expected. Younger (Χ2 = 7.893, P = 0.02),
nondepressed (Χ2 = 7.355, P = 0.03), and fit students (Χ2 = 10.617, P = 0.005) chose “Yes” while
males selected “No” (Χ2 = 8.99, P = 0.01) more often than expected for AO. Approximately 31% of
students reported having moderate‑to‑severe depression, 7.8% were in treatment, and 55% were
classified as having low fitness levels.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study should be considered when developing antidepressant
programming on university campuses.

Keywords

Cardiorespiratory fitness
college
meditation
therapy
treatment preference
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 11, Issue 11
December 2021
Pages 1-7

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