Unveiling Mental Health Issues in Foundation Programs: A Study of Depressive Symptoms Among Universiti Malaya Students

This cross-sectional survey investigated depressive symptoms among students at the Centre for Foundation Studies in Science, Universiti Malaya. The study sample consisted of 319 students, aged 18 to 19 years, with a gender distribution of 129 males (40.4%) and 190 females (59.6%). The participants were enrolled in two major programs: Asasi Sains Hayat (Life Sciences) with 159 students (49.8%) and Asasi Sains Fizikal (Physical Sciences) with 160 students (50.2%). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ), a 13-item measure evaluating symptoms over the past two weeks. The study employed descriptive statistics, t-tests, and two-way ANOVA to analyze the data, focusing on the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms across genders and academic disciplines. The findings revealed a substantial presence of depressive symptoms, with 44.2% of students scoring above the clinical threshold. No significant interaction between gender and academic program was found, indicating a consistent pattern across demographics. However, Physical Sciences students reported higher levels of fatigue, restlessness, and self-deprecation, while Life Sciences students felt more inadequate in their abilities. These results highlight the importance of tailored mental health interventions at Universiti Malaya, offering crucial insights for policymakers and mental health professionals to enhance student support systems.