P Mortier1, K Demyttenaere2, R P Auerbach3, J G Green4, R C Kessler5, G Kiekens2, M K Nock6, R Bruffaerts2. 1. Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven University, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: philippe.mortier@uzleuven.be. 2. Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven University, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium. 3. Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, Belmont, MA, USA. 4. School of Education, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA. 5. Harvard Medical School, Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA. 6. Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: While suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) among college students are common, the associations between STB and academic performance are not well understood. METHODS: As part of the World Mental Health Surveys International College Student project, web-based self-reported STB of KU Leuven (Leuven, Belgium) incoming freshmen (N=4921; response rate=65.4%) was collected, as well as academic year percentage (AYP), and the departments to which students belong. Single- and multilevel multivariate analyses were conducted, adjusted for gender, age, parental educational level, and comorbid lifetime emotional problems. RESULTS: Lifetime suicide plan and attempt upon college entrance were associated with significant decreases in AYP (3.6% and 7.9%, respectively). A significant interaction was found with average departmental AYP, with STB more strongly associated with reduced AYP in departments with lower than higher average AYP. LIMITATIONS: Limited sample size precluded further investigation of interactions between department-level and student-level variables. No information was available on freshman secondary school academic performance. CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime STB has a strong negative association with academic performance in college. Our study suggests a potential role for the college environment as target for treatment and prevention interventions.
BACKGROUND: While suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) among college students are common, the associations between STB and academic performance are not well understood. METHODS: As part of the World Mental Health Surveys International College Student project, web-based self-reported STB of KU Leuven (Leuven, Belgium) incoming freshmen (N=4921; response rate=65.4%) was collected, as well as academic year percentage (AYP), and the departments to which students belong. Single- and multilevel multivariate analyses were conducted, adjusted for gender, age, parental educational level, and comorbid lifetime emotional problems. RESULTS: Lifetime suicide plan and attempt upon college entrance were associated with significant decreases in AYP (3.6% and 7.9%, respectively). A significant interaction was found with average departmental AYP, with STB more strongly associated with reduced AYP in departments with lower than higher average AYP. LIMITATIONS: Limited sample size precluded further investigation of interactions between department-level and student-level variables. No information was available on freshman secondary school academic performance. CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime STB has a strong negative association with academic performance in college. Our study suggests a potential role for the college environment as target for treatment and prevention interventions.
Authors: Ronny Bruffaerts; Philippe Mortier; Glenn Kiekens; Randy P Auerbach; Pim Cuijpers; Koen Demyttenaere; Jennifer G Green; Matthew K Nock; Ronald C Kessler Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2017-07-25 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: P Mortier; K Demyttenaere; R P Auerbach; P Cuijpers; J G Green; G Kiekens; R C Kessler; M K Nock; A M Zaslavsky; R Bruffaerts Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2016-09-28 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Philippe Mortier; Glenn Kiekens; Randy P Auerbach; Pim Cuijpers; Koen Demyttenaere; Jennifer G Green; Ronald C Kessler; Matthew K Nock; Alan M Zaslavsky; Ronny Bruffaerts Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2017-07 Impact factor: 4.384
Authors: Philippe Mortier; Randy P Auerbach; Jordi Alonso; William G Axinn; Pim Cuijpers; David D Ebert; Jennifer G Green; Irving Hwang; Ronald C Kessler; Howard Liu; Matthew K Nock; Stephanie Pinder-Amaker; Nancy A Sampson; Alan M Zaslavsky; Jibril Abdulmalik; Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola; Ali Al-Hamzawi; Corina Benjet; Koen Demyttenaere; Silvia Florescu; Giovanni De Girolamo; Oye Gureje; Josep Maria Haro; Chiyi Hu; Yueqin Huang; Peter De Jonge; Elie G Karam; Andrzej Kiejna; Viviane Kovess-Masfety; Sing Lee; John J Mcgrath; Siobhan O'neill; Vladimir Nakov; Beth-Ellen Pennell; Marina Piazza; José Posada-Villa; Charlene Rapsey; Maria Carmen Viana; Miguel Xavier; Ronny Bruffaerts Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2018-01-16 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Margaret McLafferty; Coral R Lapsley; Edel Ennis; Cherie Armour; Sam Murphy; Brendan P Bunting; Anthony J Bjourson; Elaine K Murray; Siobhan M O'Neill Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-12-13 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Philippe Mortier; Gemma Vilagut; Beatriz Puértolas Gracia; Ana De Inés Trujillo; Itxaso Alayo Bueno; Laura Ballester Coma; María Jesús Blasco Cubedo; Narcís Cardoner; Cristina Colls; Matilde Elices; Anna Garcia-Altes; Manel Gené Badia; Javier Gómez Sánchez; Mario Martín Sánchez; Rosa Morros; Bibiana Prat Pubill; Ping Qin; Lars Mehlum; Ronald C Kessler; Diego Palao; Víctor Pérez Sola; Jordi Alonso Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-07-12 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: David Daniel Ebert; Philippe Mortier; Fanny Kaehlke; Ronny Bruffaerts; Harald Baumeister; Randy P Auerbach; Jordi Alonso; Gemma Vilagut; Kalina I Martínez; Christine Lochner; Pim Cuijpers; Ann-Marie Kuechler; Jennifer Green; Penelope Hasking; Coral Lapsley; Nancy A Sampson; Ronald C Kessler Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2019-05-09 Impact factor: 4.035