Role of Personality Traits on Depression among Undergraduate University Students

Depression is a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. These problems can become acute or recurrent and lead to substantial impairments in an individual’s ability to take care of his or her everyday responsibilities. It is a complex disorder which can manifest under a variety of circumstances and due to a multiplicity of factors. The rate of depression increases during the adolescence period where there is a greater risk for substance abuse and other psychiatric co-morbidities. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to look into the effect of personality dimension on the level of depression amongst the undergraduate university students. For the said purpose, both independent variables (gender, personality) as well as dependent variable (depression) were undertaken. A non clinical sample of 100 undergraduate students from SRM University, Gangtok falling in the age group of 19-25 years participated. They were assessed by the following tools: the socio-demographic data sheet, the Beck Depression Inventory II and the revised NEO five factor inventory. The data collected were analyzed on the basis of Statistical Package for Social Science Version 22. The study found a significant and positive correlation of extraversion with openness and conscientiousness and significant difference between male and female undergraduate university students on extraversion, openness and conscientiousness dimension of personality.