Levels of Depression among Indian and Foreign P.G Students before Examinations: An Empirical Study

Abstract

The participants of the study are 80 students postgraduate who studied in India. In terms of nativity, the sample consists of 40 foreign postgraduate students and 40 Indian postgraduate students who study in India; and in terms of gender, the sample consists of 40 male postgraduate students and 40 female postgraduate students. The postgraduate students fall into various departments in university (Osmania University) ranging from Master of Arts, Master of Sciences, and Master of Commerce, with age range from 22 years old to 30 years old.  The test used to determine the level of depression of the students is Beck Depression Inventory II. The BDI-II is the improvement version of BDI test published in 1996, developed in response to the American Psychiatric Association's publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, which changed many of the diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder. The goals of the research are as follows: Foreign and Indian postgraduate students will have moderate level of depression during examinations preparation period. Foreign postgraduate students will have higher level of depression compared to Indian postgraduate students during examinations preparation period. Postgraduate female students will have higher level of depression compared to male postgraduate students during examinations preparation period.