Depression, hostility, and substance use among university students in Jordan

Background: University students are a target population for a number of research studies due to a high prevalence of mental health and psychosocial problems. Aims: To examine the relationship between depressive symptoms, hostility, and substance use among university students in Jordan. Methods: This is a descriptive correlation study. Data were collected on demographics, depressive symptoms, hostility, and substance use from 572 university students in Jordan. Results: Almost 75% of the university students exhibited some degree of depressive symptoms. Tobacco, painkillers, stimulants, tranquilizers, inhalants, and alcohol respectively were the most used substances. Depressive symptoms were positively correlated with hostility and tobacco use. Similarly, depression had a positive correlation with the frequency of using painkillers, inhalants, stimulants, tranquilizers, and heroin. Male and female university students were not different in their depressive symptoms, hostility, and frequency of substance use. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms, hostility, and substance use were positively correlated. Mental health care providers need to understand the relationship between depressive symptoms and hostility and substance use among university students in Jordan.