Cross-Sectional Analysis of Mental Health among University Students: Do Sex and Academic Level Matter?
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Setting
2.2. Variables
2.2.1. Subjective Health
2.2.2. Self-Esteem
2.2.3. Student Engagement (UWES-9-SF)
2.2.4. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
2.2.5. Student Irritation Scale
2.2.6. Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety (PHQ-4)
2.3. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Student Mental Health by Sex
3.2. Student Mental Health by Academic Level of Study at University
4. Discussion
4.1. Student Mental Health by Sex
4.2. Student Mental Health by Academic Level of Study at University
4.3. Limitations
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Mental Health | Total | Females | Males | χ2 | OR [95% CI] | p-Value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Positive aspects | ||||||
(Very) good subjective health | 2325 (69.7) | 1546 (69.3) | 779(70.6) | 0.53 | 0.94 [0.81; 1.10] | 0.465 |
High self-esteem | 1984 (59.5) | 1300 (58.3) | 684 (62.0) | 4.23 | 0.86 [0.74; 0.99] | 0.040 |
Negative aspects | ||||||
Positive screen for | ||||||
Depression | 1021 (31.5) | 705 (32.5) | 316 (29.4) | 3.16 | 1.16 [0.99; 1.35] | 0.076 |
Anxiety | 1109 (34.2) | 827 (38.1) | 282 (26.2) | 44.47 | 1.73 [1.47; 2.03] | <0.001 |
Comorbidity | 712 (21.9) | 521 (24.0) | 191 (17.8) | 16.19 | 1.46 [1.22; 1.76] | <0.001 |
Psychological distress | 923 (28.4) | 670 (30.9) | 253 (23.5) | 18.86 | 1.45 [1.23; 1.72] | <0.001 |
Mental Health | Total | Females | Males | F | ηp2 | Mean Difference [95% CI] | p-Value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Positive aspects | |||||||
Student engagement | 3.27 ± 1.13 | 3.23 ± 1.12 | 3.35 ± 1.16 | 7.45 | <0.01 | −0.12 [−020; −0.03] | 0.006 |
Vigor | 2.89 ± 1.14 | 2.88 ± 1.12 | 2.91 ± 1.19 | 0.64 | <0.01 | −0.03 [−0.12; 0.05] | 0.423 |
Dedication | 3.64 ± 1.32 | 3.61 ± 1.31 | 3.70 ± 1.36 | 3.59 | <0.01 | -0.09 [−0.19; 0] | 0.058 |
Absorption | 3.29 ± 1.28 | 3.22 ± 1.27 | 3.43 ± 1.31 | 20.91 | 0.01 | −0.22 [−0.31; −0.13] | <0.001 |
Negative aspects | |||||||
Perceived stress | 19.17 ± 7.08 | 19.91 ± 6.86 | 17.72 ± 7.27 | 70.39 | 0.02 | 2.19 [1.68; 2.70] | <0.001 |
Irritation | 23.59 ± 7.98 | 24.30 ± 7.81 | 22.16 ± 8.18 | 51.90 | 0.02 | 2.13 [1.55; 2.72] | <0.001 |
Cognitive irritation | 13.33 ± 4.99 | 13.77 ± 4.85 | 12.44 ± 5.14 | 51.90 | 0.02 | 1.33 [0.97; 1.69] | <0.001 |
Emotional irritation | 10.26 ± 4.64 | 10.53 ± 4.60 | 9.71 ± 4.68 | 21.75 | 0.01 | 0.81 [0.47; 1.14] | <0.001 |
Mental Health | BSc | MSc | PhD | χ2 | p-Value | OR [95% CI] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BSc | MSc | PhD | ||||||
Positive aspects | ||||||||
(Very) good Subjective health | 1341 (68.4) | 669 (71.1) | 315 (72.7) | 4.14 | 0.126 | 0.82 [0.65; 1.03] | 0.93 [0.72; 1.20] | 1 |
High self-esteem | 1098 (56.0) | 594 (63.1) | 292 (67.7) | 25.71 | <0.001 | 0.62 [0.49; 0.77] | 0.83 [0.65; 1.05] | 1 |
Negative aspects | ||||||||
Depression | 646 (33.8) | 265 (28.9) | 110 (26.3) | 12.23 | 0.002 | 1.41 [1.11; 1.79] | 1.13 [0.87; 1.46] | 1 |
Anxiety | 720 (37.7) | 280 (29.5) | 109 (26.0) | 24.78 | <0.001 | 1.63 [1.28; 2.07] | 1.18 [0.91; 1.53] | 1 |
Comorbidity | 463 (24.2) | 181 (19.8) | 68 (16.2) | 14.68 | <0.001 | 1.59 [1.20; 2.10] | 1.22 [0.90; 1.66] | 1 |
Psychological distress | 596 (31.2) | 235 (25.7) | 92 (22.0) | 17.33 | <0.001 | 1.55 [1.21; 2.00] | 1.18 [0.89; 1.55] | 1 |
Mental Health | BSc | MSc | PhD | F | p-Value | ηp2 | Mean Difference [95% CI] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BSc | MSc | PhD | |||||||
Positive aspects | |||||||||
Student engagement | 3.20 ± 1.11 | 3.25±1.17 | 3.63 ± 1.09 | 24.07 | <0.001 | 0.02 | −0.42 [−0.57; −0.27] | −0.38 [−0.54; −0.22] | 0 |
Vigor | 2.83 ± 1.11 | 2.89±1.19 | 3.14 ± 1.16 | 16.48 | <0.001 | 0.01 | −0.31 −0.46; −0.16] | −0.26 [−0.42; −0.10] | 0 |
Dedication | 3.59 ± 1.32 | 3.59±1.32 | 3.97 ± 1.28 | 14.65 | <0.001 | 0.01 | −0.37 [−0.54; −0.20] | -0.38 [−0.56; −0.19] | 0 |
Absorption | 3.19 ± 1.26 | 3.27±1.33 | 3.78 ± 1.17 | 35.94 | <0.001 | 0.02 | -0.58 [−0.74; −0.42] | -0.49 [−0.67; −0.32] | 0 |
Negative aspects | |||||||||
Perceived stress | 19.87 ± 6.86 | 18.41 ± 7.23 | 17.67 ± 7.30 | 22.03 | <0.001 | 0.01 | 1.94 [1.04; 2.84] | 0.47 [−0.51; 1.45] | 0 |
Irritation | 23.77 ± 7.86 | 23.61 ± 8.18 | 22.75 ± 8.15 | 1.58 | 0.206 | <0.01 | 0.76 [−0.27; 1.79] | 0.59 [−0.53; 1.72] | 0 |
Cognitive irritation | 13.30 ± 4.87 | 13.51 ± 5.16 | 13.08 ± 5.15 | 0.64 | 0.525 | <0.01 | 0.06 [−0.58; 0.70] | 0.27 [−0.44; 0.97] | 0 |
Emotional irritation | 10.47 ± 4.62 | 10.10 ± 4.61 | 9.67 ± 4.71 | 4.97 | 0.007 | <0.01 | 0.71 [0.11; 1.30] | 0.33 [−0.32; 0.98] | 0 |
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Müller, C.; El-Ansari, K.; El Ansari, W. Cross-Sectional Analysis of Mental Health among University Students: Do Sex and Academic Level Matter? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 12670. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912670
Müller C, El-Ansari K, El Ansari W. Cross-Sectional Analysis of Mental Health among University Students: Do Sex and Academic Level Matter? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(19):12670. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912670
Chicago/Turabian StyleMüller, Carsten, Kareem El-Ansari, and Walid El Ansari. 2022. "Cross-Sectional Analysis of Mental Health among University Students: Do Sex and Academic Level Matter?" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 19: 12670. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912670