Table 1 Background characteristics of study participants (N = 402)
From: Factors associated with mental distress among undergraduate students in northern Tanzania
Variable | n | % |
|---|---|---|
Age (years) | ||
Mean (SD) | 24 (2.4) | |
20–24 | 281 | 69.9 |
25+ | 121 | 30.1 |
Sex | ||
Male | 243 | 60.4 |
Female | 159 | 39.6 |
Place of residence | ||
On-campus | 60 | 14.9 |
Off-campus | 342 | 85.1 |
Year of study | ||
Second year | 127 | 31.6 |
Third year | 175 | 43.5 |
Fourth and fifth years | 100 | 24.9 |
Program of study | ||
Doctor of medicine | 203 | 50.5 |
Nursing | 88 | 21.9 |
Othersa | 111 | 27.6 |
Source of funding | ||
Family/personal | 21 | 5.2 |
HESLB | 373 | 92.8 |
Sponsor | 8 | 2 |
Marital status | ||
Single | 358 | 89.0 |
Married/ Cohabiting | 44 | 11.0 |
Have pocket money | ||
No | 115 | 28.6 |
Yes | 287 | 71.4 |
Reported family history of mental illness | ||
No | 372 | 92.5 |
Yes | 30 | 7.5 |
Ever drank alcohol | ||
No | 290 | 72.1 |
Yes | 112 | 27.9 |
Ever smoked tobacco or marijuana | ||
No | 359 | 89.3 |
Yes | 43 | 10.7 |
Social support available | ||
No | 188 | 46.8 |
Yes | 214 | 53.2 |