CHAPTER II.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES 

  This chapter entails the review of related literature and related studies in which the researchers perused in

order to give light to the underrated issue by examining the impact of depression amongst students. 

1.1. Foreign Literature 

According to the American Psychiatric Association (2013), depression is a condition marked throughout the

majority of the day by feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, and loss of interest. Significant weight loss

or gain, insomnia or hypersomnia, exhaustion or loss of energy, psychomotor agitation or retardation, feeling

unworthy, excessive guilt, difficulty concentrating, thoughts of death, and suicidal ideation are additional

indications that may be present. Additionally, a number of the depression symptoms are ones that would be

detrimental to academic performance. It may be tough to attend class or maintain attention during it if you’ve

had trouble sleeping or are tired. A student may struggle to remember knowledge and perform effectively in

class if they have lost interest or are constantly depressed.1. 

According to the College Student Journal (2009), the relationship between self-reported depressive symptoms

and college academic success was investigated in the current study. Academic achievement and depression

were found to be significantly and negatively correlated. Additionally, when compared to students with normal

and minimum degrees of sadness, students who presented with moderate levels of depressive symptoms

performed worse in academic settings. The findings point to the necessity for suitable screening procedures and

therapies aimed at reducing mild depressive symptoms that could negatively affect academic performance.2

  The literature is closely related to the researchers’ study for it directly acknowledge the effects of depression

on students' academic performance and it also explore how social support is a moderator on the study. 

 1.2. Local Literature  

1
American Psychiatric Association. 2023. Access at https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
2
College Student Journal. 2009. Access at https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE
%7CA201608594&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=01463934&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon
%7E772d8308
 The World Health Association (WHO) estimates that 450 million people worldwide suffer from mental and

behavioral problems, which make up around 14% of the world’s disease burden. At least 3.6 million Filipinos

are believed to be affected by some form of mental, neurological, or substance use of illness, according to WHO

Special Initiative for Mental Health, which was carried out in the early months of 2020. The Health Secretary

added that although the requirements set forth in the Mental Health Act and the Universal Health Care Law

offer the nation enough clout to guarantee that mental health services would be accorded primary significance,

there is an urgent need for further support.

“There is less than one mental health worker for every 100,000 Filipinos, and many are currently unable to
gain access to services,”. mental health is a serious matter and cannot be left unattended. There is
nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to taking better care of one’s mental health, and we need to
make a concerted effort at all levels if we are to help people with these conditions”. (Duque, 2020)3
The ever increasing rates of intensive depression amongst Filipino people, especially pertaining to young
adults is severely understood, underrated or less talked about. Furthermore, it is advised to seek professional
help especially those with severe depression.

1.3 Foreign Studies 

   In a study at Qassim region, the researchers conducted in order to estimate the prevalence of depression and

anxiety among High School students. Using the PHQ-9, there study found that 325 (26.0%) of the 1245 students

did not have depression, 423 (34%) had mild depression, 306 (24.6%) had moderate depression, 129 (10.4%)

had moderately severe depression, and 62 (5.0%) had severe depression. Their study concluded that, given that

the prevalence of mental disorders has greatly increased over time, there is the need to promote community

awareness of mental health issues. Students should get health education from health professionals on how to

manage stress and depression through exercise and adequate rest (Alharbi, 2019)4

In a study conducted in Mangalore City, Karnataka India, depression was found to be prevalent in 79.2% of

the 308 students. This was similar to findings by Mkize et al., who found that 53% of university students in

3
.Department of Health. 2020. DOH Calls for Unified Response for Mental Health. Access at https://doh.gov.ph/press-release/YOUR-
MIND-MATTERS-DOH-CALLS-FOR-UNIFIED-RESPONSE-TO-MENTAL-HEALTH?
fbclid=IwAR2ePAbqTporpSwZPfpwySGrpo1DEG0W9emenRjZP1UOx2NWoFViMveFD2U
4
Reem Alharbi. 2019. Depression and Anxiety Among High School Students at Qassim Region. Access a
https://journals.lww.com/jfmpc/Fulltext/2019/08020/Depression_and_anxiety_among_high_school_student.33.aspx
Transkei had depression 12. However, according to several other studies4,9,13,14, depression is much less

common among college student-between 10% and 27%, as opposed to our findings of 53%.

In our study, moderate depression made up the majority (41.2%), followed by mild depression (26.6%) and

severe depression (11.4%). In a survey of 13 19-year-old school/college students from Trivandrum (India),

moderate depression was once more the most prevalent form of the illness. Although far lower than our

findings, the prevalence of moderate depression reported here was 9.6%.5

The foreign studies is relevant to the researchers’ study for it was conducted in order to address the

concerning rise in aptitude and severity of depression among students.

    

4. Local Studies 

  The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess the level of depression in 1,020 students in

a State University in Sta. Mesa, Manila. The objective of this study is to evaluate the severity of

depression among senior high school students in order to develop a program for the respondents and

other school stakeholders. The results showed that only 27.35% of the 1,020 respondents were normal,

24.41% had mild mood disturbance, 18.72% had moderate depression, 16.27% were with borderline,

and 8.98% had severe to profound depression that required medical and psychological intervention. In

this study’s discussion section, a suggested course of action was mentioned (Dr. Lopiga, 2020). 6

If depression's symptoms are treated promptly and successfully, depression can be prevented. Because of the

high suicide incidence, depression prevention among university students is uncommon but is urgent in
5
Sarah Naushad. 2014. Study of Determinants and Proportion among College Students in Mangalore City. Access at
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003720/?fbclid=IwAR3CVq2p0E-Iyl0X1qiFp2ZjmPNhEnha0G_3L7-
QUOyjLB50oJJvWXkjA5g#:~:text=However%2C%20a%20Swedish%20study%20done,which%20was%20similar%20to
%20ours.&text=The%20present%20study%20found%20the,with%20age%20of%20the%20participants
6
Dr. ;Rodrigo Lopiga. 2020. Levels of Depression Among Senior High School Students in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Access at
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344376133_LEVEL_OF_DEPRESSION_AMONG_SELECTED_SENIOR_HIGH_SCHOOL_STUDE
NTS_IN_A_STATE_UNIVERSITY_IN_STA_MESA_MANILA#:~:text=Results%20revealed%20that%20among%20the,and
%20psychological%20attention%20are%20needed.
 the Philippines. To systematically identify and help students who have higher levels of depression

symptoms. The study carried out a survey o determine the social and demographic factors associated

with higher levels of depressive symptoms among 2,436 Filipino university students. The , evidence.

The study conducted a survey of 2,436 Filipino university students to identify the social and

demographic characteristics linked to greater levels of depressive symptoms. The University Students

Depression Inventory, which includes measures of academic motivation, lethargy, and cognition-

emotion, was employed. Six of the 11 parameters examined were shown to be statistically substantially

linked to depressed symptoms that were more severe. These included the frequency of smoking,

drinking, living apart from one’s parents, being unhappy with one’s financial situation, how close one

was to their parents, being unhappy with one’s financial situation, how close one to their parents, and

how close they were to their classmates. Sex, age, group, country, course group, year level, and religion

did not significantly affect one another. Characteristic associated with lifestyle, financial situation,

parents, and classmates are critical in identifying students who are more likely to experience depression.

More surveys must be conducted to expand the body of local knowledge about students’

depression(Lee, et al,. 2013).7

The locally conducted study further discussed strong evidences that through self-evaluating

psychometric tests that researchers, journalists or psychiatrists can evaluate who are depressed, the

severity and reason behind depression.

7
Romeo B. Lee. 2013. Factors Associated with Depressive Symptoms Among Filipino University Students. Access at
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3819248/