The Relationship between Social Support and Depressive Symptoms among Undergraduate University Students

Abstract

Depression among youth nowadays is alarming and many factors that lead them to
develop depressive symptoms. One of the elements is lack in social support and social
support also can become the protective factor towards depression. This study
investigated the relationship between social support and depressive symptoms among
undergraduate university students. The participants were recruited through
convenience sampling and they have voluntarily answered the questionnaire through
an online survey link. They were among 100 IIUM undergraduate students from all
levels of studies, various kulliyyah and consisted of 9 males and 91 female students
ranged between 18 until 25 years old. It has been hypothesized that there will be a
significant relationship between social support and depressive symptoms among
undergraduate university students. A correlational survey design was used in this
study through chi-square data analysis in analyzing the relationship between the three
levels of social support and four levels of depressive symptoms. A chi-square analysis
was conducted and the result found that there was a statistically significant
relationship between these variables, χ2 (6) =16.712, p<.05, p=0.01. The result
indicated that there was a relationship between social support and depressive
symptoms in which students with a high level of social support had a minimal level of
depressive symptoms. The limitation of this study is the small sample size (n=100);
most of the participants were females students (91%) and the scale in the form of selfreport
that can cause bias. The significance of this study is it can provide an
understanding to the society about the importance and role of social support among
the people. Besides, the present study will show the relationship of social support on
depressive symptoms due to the absence or presence of social support. Moreover, this
study also can help society and policymakers to develop more intervention programs
related to social support. Thus, social support plays a vital role in alleviating
depressive symptoms.