Depression among Undergraduate College Students in Relation to their Family Environment

Depression is one of the most costly and debilitating medical conditions afflicting our society. The present study attempted to find out the relationship of depression with different dimensions of family environment among undergraduate college students. The study also compared male and female college students on depression and different dimensions of family environment. The sample consisted of 50 male and 50 female undergraduate college students in the age range of 18 to 23 years. Beck Depression Inventory-II and Family Environment Scale were used to collect data from the participants (N=100). The results obtained showed that depression was negatively correlated with cohesion (-0.63), expressiveness (-0.66) and independence (-0.73) dimensions of family environment and no significant gender difference was found on depression. Undergraduate male and female college students did not differ significantly on all the seven dimensions of family environment except Control dimension. Various risk factors have been linked to depression in adolescents like family environment, personality type, self-concept and genetic factors along with stressful events. The reasons may be different but it mostly related with the family issues which affect adolescents. Lack of communication between the children and parents may also lead to the depression because the child cannot share what is going on in his/ her life. When faced with decisions or crises, healthy families involve all family members to come to solution for the mutual good. Conflicts are settled through rational discussion and compromise instead of open hostility and conflicts. The more cohesive families develop better bonds among family members and cause less depression.