First-year undergraduate students: depressed, distressed, and drained? Influence of depressive symptoms on markers of psychological well-being, sleep, and physical activity

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 71; no. 3; pp. 904 - 913
• Main Authors: Rauff, Erica L., van der Meulen, C. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.04.2023; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Anxiety; Anxiety - psychology; Between-subjects design; College Freshmen; Depression; Depression (Psychology); Exercise; health behaviors; Health status; Human Body; Humans; Mental depression; Mental Health; Outcome Measures; Outcomes of Treatment; Physical activity; Physical Activity Level; Physical Health; Psychological Well-Being; Self Concept; Self report; Sleep; Stress Variables; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Student Attitudes; Student Characteristics; Students - psychology; Symptoms; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Undergraduate Students; Universities; Well Being; Depression; psychological well-being; health behaviors; undergraduate Students
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1909043

Objective: This study examined depressive symptomatology (DS) across the academic year in first-year undergraduate students and the influence of DS on anxiety, stress, body esteem, physical activity, and sleep. Participants: Participants were first-year undergraduate students (N= 164). Methods: Participants completed validated self-report measures each quarter. A repeated measures ANCOVA was conducted to examine changes in DS over time. Students were categorized as reporting subclinical (SCD) or clinical (CD) depressive symptoms. A repeated measures MANCOVA was conducted to examine the effect of time and DS groups on primary outcomes. Results: No significant main effects of time were observed for outcomes. Significant between-subjects effects were observed with CD participants reporting significantly higher anxiety and stress and lower sleep than SCD participants. Conclusions: First-year undergraduates with CD may have increased risk for negative markers of psychological and physical health outcomes. Universities should prioritize the psychological and physical health of their first-year students.