Prevalence of mental disorder symptoms among university students: An umbrella review

IF 7.5 1区医学 Q1 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Pub Date : 2025-06-05 DOI:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106244

Ursula Paiva , Samuele Cortese , Martina Flor , Andrés Moncada-Parra , Arturo Lecumberri , Luis Eudave , Sara Magallón , Sara García-González , Ángel Sobrino-Morras , Isabella Piqué , Gemma Mestre-Bach , Marco Solmi , Gonzalo Arrondo

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Abstract

This umbrella review synthesizes data on the prevalence of mental disorder symptoms among university students worldwide. A systematic search of seven databases (inception–July 23, 2023) followed PRISMA guidelines. We included meta-analyses assessing the prevalence of mental disorder symptoms, evaluating methodological quality with AMSTAR-2. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted, along with meta-regression and subgroup analyses for moderators (percentage of females, publication date, healthcare-related degrees, COVID-19 pandemic). We included 1,655 primary studies from 62 meta-analyses, encompassing 8,706,185 participants. AMSTAR-2 ratings classified 35 % of meta-analyses as low quality and 65 % as critically low. Pooled prevalence estimates were: depression—mild (35.41 %, CI=33.9–36.93) and severe (13.42 %, CI=8.03–19.92; k=952; n=2,108,813); anxiety—mild (40.21 %, CI=37.39–43.07) and severe (16.79 %, CI=7.21–29.29; k=433; n=1,579,780); sleep disorders (41.09 %, CI=35.7–46.58); eating disorders (17.94 %, CI=15.79–20.20); gambling disorder (6.59 %, CI=5.52–7.75); post-traumatic stress disorder (25.13 %, CI=20.55–30.02); stress (36.34 %, CI=29.36–43.62); and suicide-related outcomes (ideation past 12 months: 10.76 %, CI=9.53–12.06; lifetime ideation: 20.33 %, CI=16.15–24.86; suicide attempt past 12 months: 1.37 %, CI=0.67–2.29; lifetime attempt: 3.44 %, CI=2.48–4.54). Meta-regression analyses identified statistically significant moderators of prevalence such as healthcare academic degrees and the pandemic in the case of depression and studies with more females in the case of sleep disorders. This is the most comprehensive synthesis on the prevalence of mental disorder symptoms in university students, providing crucial insights for clinicians, policymakers, and stakeholders.

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大学生精神障碍症状的流行：概括性回顾

本综述综合了全球大学生中精神障碍症状患病率的数据。按照PRISMA的指导方针，对7个数据库进行了系统搜索（inception - 2023年7月23日）。我们纳入了评估精神障碍症状患病率的荟萃分析，用AMSTAR-2评估方法学质量。进行了随机效应荟萃分析，并对调节因子（女性百分比、发表日期、医疗保健相关学位、COVID-19大流行）进行了荟萃回归和亚组分析。我们纳入了来自62项荟萃分析的1,655项主要研究，涉及8,706,185名参与者。AMSTAR-2评分将35% %的meta分析归为低质量，65% %归为极低质量。合并患病率估计为：轻度抑郁症（35.41 %，CI= 33.9-36.93）和重度抑郁症（13.42 %，CI= 8.03-19.92）；k = 952;n = 2108813);轻度焦虑（40.21 %，CI=37.39 ~ 43.07）和重度焦虑（16.79 %，CI=7.21 ~ 29.29）；k = 433;n = 1579780);睡眠障碍（41.09 %，CI= 35.7-46.58）；饮食失调（17.94 %，CI=15.79 ~ 20.20）；赌博障碍（6.59 %，CI= 5.52-7.75）；创伤后应激障碍（25.13 %，CI=20.55 ~ 30.02）；应激（36.34 %，CI= 29.36-43.62）；自杀相关结果(过去12个月的意念：10.76 %，CI= 9.53-12.06；终生构思率：20.33 %，CI= 16.15-24.86；过去12个月自杀企图：1.37 %，CI= 0.67-2.29；寿命尝试：3.44 %，CI= 2.48-4.54)。荟萃回归分析确定了统计上显著的患病率调节因素，如医疗保健学历和抑郁症的流行程度，以及对睡眠障碍的女性研究。这是关于大学生精神障碍症状患病率的最全面的综合，为临床医生、政策制定者和利益相关者提供了重要的见解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 医学-行为科学

CiteScore

14.20

自引率

3.70%

发文量

466

审稿时长

6 months

期刊介绍： The official journal of the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society publishes original and significant review articles that explore the intersection between neuroscience and the study of psychological processes and behavior. The journal also welcomes articles that primarily focus on psychological processes and behavior, as long as they have relevance to one or more areas of neuroscience.