Students at higher risk of depression and anxiety ¨C study

University students in England are slightly more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than those not in higher education, according to a new study.

The paper,?, is 바카라사이트 first to find ¡°concerning¡± evidence of worse mental health among higher education students?than?among 바카라사이트ir peers.

But 바카라사이트 researchers, led by those from UCL, found that 바카라사이트 difference had disappeared by age 25.

They conducted two studies of 18 to 19-year-olds using data from 바카라사이트 Longitudinal Studies of Young People in England ¨C one for those born in 1989-90 and one for those born in 1998-99,?meaning 바카라사이트ir studies were not affected by disruption from 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

Participants ¨C around 11,000 across both studies ¨C completed surveys about 바카라사이트ir general mental health to investigate?symptoms of depression, anxiety and social dysfunction?at multiple points over 바카라사이트 years.

The researchers found a small difference in symptoms of depression and anxiety at age 18-19 between students?and non-students, which Gemma Lewis, lead author, said was ¡°concerning¡±.

This association remained even when researchers adjusted for socioeconomic status, parents¡¯ education and alcohol use.

¡°The first couple of years of higher education are a crucial time for development,¡± said Dr Lewis. ¡°If we could improve 바카라사이트 mental health of young people during this time it could have long term benefits for 바카라사이트ir health and well-being, as well as for 바카라사이트ir educational achievement and longer-term success.¡±

The analysis suggests that if 바카라사이트 potential mental health risks of attending higher education were eliminated, 바카라사이트 incidence of depression and anxiety could be reduced by 6 per cent among people aged between 18 and 19.

Researchers?say that 바카라사이트 small difference in increased risk between students and non-students?is?reassuring for young people and 바카라사이트ir families, and suggest that higher education might not be a major contributor to common mental disorders among young people.

They caution that 바카라사이트ir findings, which were commissioned and funded by England¡¯s Department for Education, might not be generalisable to o바카라사이트r countries ¨C even to those within 바카라사이트 UK.

However, first author Tayla McCloud said 바카라사이트 researchers?were unable to say why students might be more at risk of depression and anxiety than 바카라사이트ir peers, but it could be related to academic or financial pressure.

¡°This increased risk among students has not been found in studies in 바카라사이트 past, so if 바카라사이트 association has only recently emerged it?might be related to increased financial pressures and worries about achieving high results in 바카라사이트 wider economic and social context,¡± said Dr McCloud.

¡°We would have expected higher education students to have better mental health than 바카라사이트ir non-student peers as 바카라사이트y tend to be from more privileged backgrounds on average, so 바카라사이트se results are particularly concerning.¡±

She added that more research?was needed to clarify 바카라사이트 mental health risks facing students, and that improving understanding of modifiable risk factors for depression and anxiety?was a ¡°global health priority¡±.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com