Marit Knapstad1,2, Børge Sivertsen1,3,4, Ann Kristin Knudsen5,6, Otto Robert Frans Smith1, Leif Edvard Aarø1, Kari Jussie Lønning7,8, Jens Christoffer Skogen1,9,10. 1. Department of Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway. 2. Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. 3. Department of Research & Innovation, Helse Fonna HF, Haugesund, Norway. 4. Department of Mental Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. 5. Centre for Disease Burden, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway. 6. Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. 7. The Norwegian Medical Association, Oslo, Norway. 8. The Student Welfare Association of Oslo and Akershus (SiO), Oslo, Norway. 9. Alcohol and Drug Research Western Norway (KoRFor), Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway. 10. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: An increase in reported psychological distress, particularly among adolescent girls, is observed across a range of countries. Whether a similar trend exists among students in higher education remains unknown. The aim of the current study was to describe trends in self-reported psychological distress among Norwegian college and university students from 2010 to 2018. METHODS: We employed data from the Students' Health and Wellbeing Study (SHoT), a nationwide survey for higher education in Norway including full-time students aged 18-34. Numbers of participants (participation rates) were n = 6065 (23%) in 2010, n = 13 663 (29%) in 2014 and n = 49 321 (31%) in 2018. Psychological distress was measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25). RESULTS: Overall, a statistically significant increase in self-reported psychological distress was observed over time across gender and age-groups. HSCL-25 scores were markedly higher for women than for men at all time-points. Effect-size of the mean change was also stronger for women (time-by-gender interaction: χ2 = 70.02, df = 2, p < 0.001): in women, mean HSCL-25 score increased from 1.62 in 2010 to 1.82 in 2018, yielding a mean change effect-size of 0.40. The corresponding change in men was from 1.42 in 2010 to 1.53 in 2018, giving an effect-size of 0.26. CONCLUSIONS: Both the level and increase in self-reported psychological distress among Norwegian students in higher education are potentially worrying. Several mechanisms may contribute to the observed trend, including changes in response style and actual increase in distress. The relative low response rates in SHoT warrant caution when interpreting and generalising the findings.
BACKGROUND: An increase in reported psychological distress, particularly among adolescent girls, is observed across a range of countries. Whether a similar trend exists among students in higher education remains unknown. The aim of the current study was to describe trends in self-reported psychological distress among Norwegian college and university students from 2010 to 2018. METHODS: We employed data from the Students' Health and Wellbeing Study (SHoT), a nationwide survey for higher education in Norway including full-time students aged 18-34. Numbers of participants (participation rates) were n = 6065 (23%) in 2010, n = 13 663 (29%) in 2014 and n = 49 321 (31%) in 2018. Psychological distress was measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25). RESULTS: Overall, a statistically significant increase in self-reported psychological distress was observed over time across gender and age-groups. HSCL-25 scores were markedly higher for women than for men at all time-points. Effect-size of the mean change was also stronger for women (time-by-gender interaction: χ2 = 70.02, df = 2, p < 0.001): in women, mean HSCL-25 score increased from 1.62 in 2010 to 1.82 in 2018, yielding a mean change effect-size of 0.40. The corresponding change in men was from 1.42 in 2010 to 1.53 in 2018, giving an effect-size of 0.26. CONCLUSIONS: Both the level and increase in self-reported psychological distress among Norwegian students in higher education are potentially worrying. Several mechanisms may contribute to the observed trend, including changes in response style and actual increase in distress. The relative low response rates in SHoT warrant caution when interpreting and generalising the findings.
Entities:
Keywords:
HSCL-25; anxiety; college students; depression; psychological distress; trend; university students
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