Ronny Bruffaerts1, Philippe Mortier2, Glenn Kiekens2, Randy P Auerbach3, Pim Cuijpers4, Koen Demyttenaere5, Jennifer G Green6, Matthew K Nock7, Ronald C Kessler8. 1. Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven University, Universitair Psychiatrisch Centrum - KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: ronny.bruffaerts@med.kuleuven.be. 2. Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA. 4. Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 5. Research Group Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven University, Universitair Psychiatrisch Centrum - KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. 6. School of Education, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA. 7. Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. 8. Harvard Medical School, Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mental health problems in college and their associations with academic performance are not well understood. The main aim of this study was to investigate to what extent mental health problems are associated with academic functioning. METHODS: As part of the World Mental Health Surveys International College Student project, 12-month mental health problems among freshmen (N = 4921) was assessed in an e-survey of students at KU Leuven University in Leuven, Belgium. The associations of mental health problems with academic functioning (expressed in terms of academic year percentage [or AYP] and grade point average [GPA]) were examined across academic departments. RESULTS: Approximately one in three freshman reports mental health problems in the past year, with internalizing and externalizing problems both associated with reduced academic functioning (2.9-4.7% AYP reduction, corresponding to 0.2-0.3 GPA reduction). The association of externalizing problems with individual-level academic functioning was significantly higher in academic departments with comparatively low average academic functioning. 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: Mental health problems are common in college freshman, and clearly associated with lower academic functioning. Additional research is needed to examine the potentially causal nature of this association, and, if so, whether interventions aimed at treating mental health problems might improve academic performance.
BACKGROUND: Mental health problems in college and their associations with academic performance are not well understood. The main aim of this study was to investigate to what extent mental health problems are associated with academic functioning. METHODS: As part of the World Mental Health Surveys International College Student project, 12-month mental health problems among freshmen (N = 4921) was assessed in an e-survey of students at KU Leuven University in Leuven, Belgium. The associations of mental health problems with academic functioning (expressed in terms of academic year percentage [or AYP] and grade point average [GPA]) were examined across academic departments. RESULTS: Approximately one in three freshman reports mental health problems in the past year, with internalizing and externalizing problems both associated with reduced academic functioning (2.9-4.7% AYP reduction, corresponding to 0.2-0.3 GPA reduction). The association of externalizing problems with individual-level academic functioning was significantly higher in academic departments with comparatively low average academic functioning. 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: Mental health problems are common in college freshman, and clearly associated with lower academic functioning. Additional research is needed to examine the potentially causal nature of this association, and, if so, whether interventions aimed at treating mental health problems might improve academic performance.
Authors: Randy P Auerbach; Philippe Mortier; Ronny Bruffaerts; Jordi Alonso; Corina Benjet; Pim Cuijpers; Koen Demyttenaere; David D Ebert; Jennifer Greif Green; Penelope Hasking; Elaine Murray; Matthew K Nock; Stephanie Pinder-Amaker; Nancy A Sampson; Dan J Stein; Gemma Vilagut; Alan M Zaslavsky; Ronald C Kessler Journal: J Abnorm Psychol Date: 2018-09-13
Authors: Jordi Alonso; Philippe Mortier; Randy P Auerbach; Ronny Bruffaerts; Gemma Vilagut; Pim Cuijpers; Koen Demyttenaere; David D Ebert; Edel Ennis; Raul A Gutiérrez-García; Jennifer Greif Green; Penelope Hasking; Christine Lochner; Matthew K Nock; Stephanie Pinder-Amaker; Nancy A Sampson; Alan M Zaslavsky; Ronald C Kessler Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2018-05-30 Impact factor: 6.505
Authors: Chelsey R Wilks; Randy P Auerbach; Jordi Alonso; Corina Benjet; Ronny Bruffaerts; Pim Cuijpers; David D Ebert; Jennifer G Green; Claude A Mellins; Philippe Mortier; Ekaterina Sadikova; Nancy A Sampson; Ronald C Kessler Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2020-01-29 Impact factor: 4.791
Authors: David Daniel Ebert; Marvin Franke; Fanny Kählke; Ann-Marie Küchler; Ronny Bruffaerts; Philippe Mortier; Eirini Karyotaki; Jordi Alonso; Pim Cuijpers; Matthias Berking; Randy P Auerbach; Ronald C Kessler; Harald Baumeister Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2018-11-20 Impact factor: 4.035
Authors: Randy P Auerbach; Philippe Mortier; Ronny Bruffaerts; Jordi Alonso; Corina Benjet; Pim Cuijpers; Koen Demyttenaere; David D Ebert; Jennifer Greif Green; Penelope Hasking; Sue Lee; Christine Lochner; Margaret McLafferty; Matthew K Nock; Maria V Petukhova; Stephanie Pinder-Amaker; Anthony J Rosellini; Nancy A Sampson; Gemma Vilagut; Alan M Zaslavsky; Ronald C Kessler Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2018-11-18 Impact factor: 4.035
Authors: Fanny Kählke; Thomas Berger; Ava Schulz; Harald Baumeister; Matthias Berking; Randy P Auerbach; Ronny Bruffaerts; Pim Cuijpers; Ronald C Kessler; David Daniel Ebert Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2019-01-27 Impact factor: 4.035
Authors: Adrian J Bravo; Melissa Sotelo; Angelina Pilatti; Laura Mezquita; Jennifer P Read Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2019-09-16 Impact factor: 4.492