Profiling third-level student mental health: findings from My World Survey 2

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to identify risk and protective factors for mental health across student cohorts to guide mental health provision. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the My World Survey 2-Post Second Level (MWS2-PSL) were used. The sample consisted of N = 9935 students (18–65 years) from 12 third-level institutions (7 out of 7 universities and 5 out of 14 Institute of Technologies (IoTs)) across Ireland. Key outcomes of interest were depression, anxiety and suicidality. Risk factors included drug/alcohol use, risky sexual behaviours and exposure to stressors. Protective factors included coping strategies, help-seeking, resilience, self-esteem, life satisfaction, optimism and social support. These factors were profiled by degree type (undergraduate, postgraduate taught, postgraduate research), access route, and institution type (IoT, university). Chi-square tests of Independence and one-way ANOVAs compared groups on key risk and protective factors. Results: A total 71% of respondents were female, 85% were aged 23 or under and there was a 2.2% response rate in IoTs versus 10.6% in university students. Undergraduates demonstrated higher levels of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicidal ideation than postgraduates. Undergraduates showed higher risk and lower protective factors than postgraduates. Students attending Institutes of Technology reported higher levels of depression and anxiety, lower protective and higher risk factors than university students. Conclusion: In this sample of students, undergraduates, especially those attending Institutes of Technology, were at increased risk of mental health difficulties. Findings suggest the need to tailor interventions to meet cohort needs, and consider the differing vulnerabilities and strengths across student cohorts. Due to limitations of this study, such as selection bias, further research is warranted.

Variations in psychological disorders, suicidality, and help-seeking behaviour among college students from different academic disciplines

“…Suicidal behaviour was particularly high among students in the IT in the ROI. A recent study conducted among third level students in Ireland, found that students attending Institutes of Technology had poorer mental health [38]. Furthermore, the IT has the highest proportion of students from a disadvantaged area, when compared to other higher education institutes in the ROI [39], which may partially explain the elevated prevalence rates revealed in the current study.…”

Self-harm in Young People: Investigating the Role of Resilience and Posttraumatic Stress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The response to these items was dichotomous (yes/no). This set of items has been previously used in the same population cohort (Mahon et al, 2022).…”

Priorities and directions for future research on student mental health within Scottish Higher Education Institutions: A scoping review protocol

“…The number of students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with serious mental health problems has risen significantly over the last decade (Andersen et al, 2021;Bekkouche et al, 2022;Lewis et al, 2021;ONS, 2022) and worsened due to stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (Grubic et al, 2020;Salimi et al, 2023). Student counselling and wellbeing services have reportedly seen an increasing number of students with more severe mental health problems (Hill et al, 2020;Johnson & Lester, 2022;Mahon et al, 2022).…”