T Richardson1, P Elliott2, R Roberts3. 1. Professional Training Unit, School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK Mental Health Recovery Team South, Solent NHS Trust, Portsmouth PO3 6AD, UK. 2. Professional Training Unit, School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK. 3. Department of Psychology, Kingston University, Surrey KT1 2EE, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown a relationship between debt and mental health problems in students. This study aimed to examine the effect of differences in tuition fees amount on changes in mental health over time. METHODS: A prospective cohort study followed 390 first-year British students who differed on their tuition fees level at 4 time points across their first 2 years at university. Participants completed measures of global mental health, depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol-related problems at up to four time points in their first two years at university. Mixed-factorial ANOVAs were used to assess the impact of tuition fees amount on changes in scores over time. RESULTS: There was no difference based on fees at Time 1 for anxiety, stress, depression and global mental health. At Time 2, those charged £0-2.9k or £3-4k improved while those charged £8-9k stayed the same. However, this trend reversed by Times 3 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: Undergraduates mental health is partially affected by the level of tuition fees; however, the recent increase in tuition fees does not appear to have had a lasting impact at present.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown a relationship between debt and mental health problems in students. This study aimed to examine the effect of differences in tuition fees amount on changes in mental health over time. METHODS: A prospective cohort study followed 390 first-year British students who differed on their tuition fees level at 4 time points across their first 2 years at university. Participants completed measures of global mental health, depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol-related problems at up to four time points in their first two years at university. Mixed-factorial ANOVAs were used to assess the impact of tuition fees amount on changes in scores over time. RESULTS: There was no difference based on fees at Time 1 for anxiety, stress, depression and global mental health. At Time 2, those charged £0-2.9k or £3-4k improved while those charged £8-9k stayed the same. However, this trend reversed by Times 3 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: Undergraduates mental health is partially affected by the level of tuition fees; however, the recent increase in tuition fees does not appear to have had a lasting impact at present.
Authors: Gerald Jordan; Laura Burke; Julia Bailey; Sof Kreidstein; Myera Iftikhar; Lauren Plamondon; Courtney Young; Larry Davidson; Michael Rowe; Chyrell Bellamy; Amal Abdel-Baki; Srividya N Iyer Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2022-05-18 Impact factor: 5.435
Authors: Fiona Campbell; Lindsay Blank; Anna Cantrell; Susan Baxter; Christopher Blackmore; Jan Dixon; Elizabeth Goyder Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2022-09-20 Impact factor: 4.135