A Systematic Review on the Prevalence of Depression and its Associated Factors among International University Students

Background: Depression is the most common mental health problem among students. International students are more vulnerable and have shown an increased percentage of depression, but no review on the prevalence of depression among international students is available. Objective: To explore the documented prevalence of depression among international students studying in universities and what are the associated factors of depression that are stated in the article mentioning the prevalence of depression. Methods: Various online databases were used to identify research articles related to the prevalence of depression among international students published between January 2010 and April 2020. Ten articles were included in this review based on the selection criteria. Results: Overall, the prevalence of depression ranges from 22.6% to 45.3% among international students and ranges from 34.2% to 46.5% in males and 33.2% to 54.1% in females. Academic stress, English proficiency, cultural shock, burnout, distress, acculturative stress, social isolation, living alone, and lack of social connectedness predicted the depression among international students. Conclusion: The prevalence of depression is higher among international students compared to domestic students and the general population. A thorough psychological and social assessment would be beneficial to screen for mental health problems, including depression.