Lifestyle and Psychological Factors Associated With Depression in College Students in Hokkaido, Japan During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study.

Objectives: Although studies have demonstrated a decline in mental health during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the long-term psychological effects remain insufficiently understood. This study conducted a web-based questionnaire survey to identify factors associated with depression among college students in Hokkaido, Japan, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A total of 187 participants who responded to a questionnaire administered in April 2022 were included in this study. The survey evaluated depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and included items on exercise habits, sleep duration, food frequency score (FFS), World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), daily step count, part-time job participation, and involvement in club activities.

Results: The mean CES-D score was 18.2 (±9.9), with 95 participants (49.7%) exhibiting symptoms of depression. Compared to those in the depression group, participants in the non-depression group were significantly more likely to engage in regular exercise and part-time jobs, as well as higher FFS, WHO-5, and FCV-19S scores. Logistic regression analysis showed that, even after adjusting for confounding variables, the WHO-5 score, FCV-19S score, and participation in part-time jobs remained significantly associated with depression scores.

Conclusions: Almost half of the participants showed symptoms of depression. These symptoms were associated with poor exercise habits and lack of part-time employment, among other factors. Among college students who had experienced more than 2 years of the pandemic, engaging in part-time work may have reduced social isolation and helped lower the risk of depression.