This study employed a longitudinal design to examine the psychosocial correlates and risk factors for depressive Symptomatology among undergraduate students. We determined the cross-sectional relation of the psychosocial variables to depressive symptoms at Time 1, and also identified the psychosocial risk factors for the emergence of depressive symptoms at Time 2. Self reported questionnaires were conducted using a sample of 532 students of a university in Okinawa, Japan. We assessed depressive symptomatology by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) at two different times 3 month apart. The psychosocial variables examined were life stressors, type A behavior, self-esteem, locus of control, coping style, perceived social support, and health practices. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the relation of the psychosocial variables to depressive symptoms. After controlling for the effects of demographic and other variables, many psychosocial variables such as life stressors, self-esteem, locus of control, coping style including accepting responsibility and planful problem-solving, father support, and mother support were associated with current depressive symptoms. Life stressors also acted as risk factors for future depressive symptoms. Students experienced high level on life stressors had a 10-fold increased risk for the onset of depression as compared with those had low stressors. These findings may be useful to identify high-risk students who need more intensive prevention programs for depression.
