Factors associated with mental distress among undergraduate students in northern Tanzania

Table 4 Crude odds ratio for factors associated with mental distress

Characteristics	n	Have mental distress (%)	COR^a (95%CI)	p-value	AOR^b (95%CI)	p-value
Age (years)
20–24	281	40 (14.2)	1
25+	121	16 (13.2)	0.92 (0.49–1.71)	0.79	–
Sex
Male	243	32 (13.2)	1
Female	159	24 (15.1)	1.17 (0.66–2.08)	0.59	–
Residence
On-campus	60	13 (21.7)	1		1
Off-campus	342	43 (12.6)	0.52 (0.26–1.04)	0.06	0.44 (0.20–0.96)	0.04
Year of study
Second year	127	24 (18.9)	1
Third year	175	16 (9.1)	0.43 (0.22–0.85)	0.02	–
Fourth and fifth years	100	16 (16.0)	0.82 (0.41–1.64)	0.57	–
Reported family history of mental illness
No	372	46 (12.4)	1		1
Yes	30	10 (33.3)	3.54 (1.56–8.04)	0.002	2.60 (1.04–6.57)	0.04
Ever drank alcohol
No	290	40 (13.8)	1
Yes	112	16 (14.3)	1.04 (0.56–1.95)	0.90	–
Ever smoked tobacco or marijuana
No	358	46 (12.8)	1
Yes	43	10 (23.3)	2.06 (0.95–4.46)	0.07	2.37 (1.00–5.59)	0.05
Social support available
No	188	43 (22.9)	1		1
Yes	214	13 (6.1)	0.22 (0.11–0.42)	< 0.001	0.22 (0.11–0.45)	< 0.001
Increase class work load
No	269	28 (10.4)	1
Yes	133	28 (21.1)	2.30 (1.29–4.07)	0.004	–
Decreased grade than anticipated
No	317	30 (9.5)	1		1
Yes	85	26 (30.6)	4.22 (2.32–7.65)	< 0.001	3.61 (1.91–6.83)	< 0.001
Missed too many classes
No	362	45 (12.4)	1
Yes	40	11 (27.5)	2.67 (1.25–5.72)	0.01	–
Serious argument with instructors
No	370	48 (13.0)	1
Yes	32	8 (25.0)	2.24 (0.95–5.26)	0.07	–
Lack of vacation/ break
No	252	26 (10.3)	1
Yes	150	30 (20.0)	2.17 (1.23–3.84)	0.008	–

^aCOR – Crude odds ratio. ^bAOR Adjusted odds ratio – adjusted for area of residence, family history of mental illness, availability of social support, decreased grade than anticipated, alcohol use and smoking status