Table 3 Multivariate analysis of factors associated with depression among participants at Jimma university main campus regular student, April 2016. (N = 556)

Family members with mental illness

 No

378 (72.8)

141 (27.2)

1

1

1

 Yes

21 (56.8)

16 (43.2)

2.043 (1.036–4.026)*

2.307 (1.055–5.049)

0.036**

College

 CHS

182 (75.8)

58 (24.2)

1.243 (0.701–2.205)

1.273 (0.682–2.377)

0.448

 CSSH

71 (56.8)

54 (43.2)

2.966 (1.619–5.434)*

2.582 (1.332–5.008)

0.005**

 CNCS

68 (73.1)

25 (26.9)

1.434 (0.732–2.807)

1.523 (0.731–3.173)

0.261

 CLG

78 (79.6)

20 (20.4)

1

1

1

Sex after drinking

 No

380 (73.6)

136 (26.4)

1

1

1

 Yes

19 (47.5)

21 (52.5)

3.088 (1.611–5.920)*

3.722(1.818–7.619)

< 0.001**

Being hit by a sexual partner

 No

381 (74.9)

128 (25.1)

1

1

1

 Yes

18 (38.3)

29 (61.7)

4.796 (2.576–8.926)*

3.132 (1.561–6.283)

0.001**

Childhood emotional abuse

 No

365 (73.9)

129 (26.1)

1

1

1

 Yes

34 (54.8)

28 (45.2)

2.330 (1.359–3.994)*

2.167 (1.169–4.017)

0.014**

Pocket money(Ethiopian Birr)

 < 100

15 (78.9)

4 (21.1)

0.351 (0.100–1.229)

0.348 (0.088–1.368)

0.131

 100–299

55 (62.5)

33 (37.5)

0.789 (0.378–1.649)

0.905 (0.386–2.118)

0.817

 300–499

161 (73.5)

58 (26.5)

0.474 (0.243–0.924)*

0.489 (0.224–1.071)

0.074

 500–999

143 (76.9)

43 (23.1)

0.396 (0.199–0.787)*

0.450 (0.204–0.995)

0.049**

 > 1000

25 (56.8)

19 (43.2)

1

1

1

Academic performance

 Warned

3 (75)

1 (25)

2.267 (0.196–26.271)

1.812 (0.133–24.738)

0.656

 Promoted

228 (66.1)

117 (33.9)

3.489 (1.330–9.158)*

2.912 (1.063–7.975)

0.038**

Distinction

134 (80.2)

33 (19.8)

1.675 (0.608–4.612)

1.327 (0.462–3.812)

0.599

Great distinction

34 (87.2)

5 (12.8)

1

1

1