Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms among black post-secondary students in North America: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Joana Mukunzi Ntunga, Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Moshirian Farahi, Jude Mary Cénat
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms among Black post-secondary students in North America. The study included 30 independent samples from 25 studies, revealing pooled prevalence estimates of 20.1% for anxiety, 22.2% for depression, and 19.3% for PTSD. These findings highlight significant mental health challenges faced by this population.
Key findings
- Pooled prevalence of anxiety among Black post-secondary students was 20.1% (95% CI: 12.4-29.2).
- Pooled prevalence of depression was 22.2% (95% CI: 16.8-28.0).
- Pooled prevalence of PTSD symptoms was 19.3% (95% CI: 16.9-21.8).
- Students identifying as 'other' or multiracial had slightly higher odds of anxiety.
Why it matters
Understanding the mental health prevalence among Black post-secondary students is crucial for developing targeted interventions. These findings can inform policies and practices within educational institutions to better support this vulnerable population.