Title |
A Longitudinal Study of Financial Difficulties and Mental Health in a National Sample of British Undergraduate Students
|
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Published in |
Community Mental Health Journal, July 2016
|
DOI | 10.1007/s10597-016-0052-0 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Thomas Richardson, Peter Elliott, Ron Roberts, Megan Jansen |
Abstract |
Previous research has shown a relationship between financial difficulties and poor mental health in students, but most research is cross-sectional. To examine longitudinal relationships over time between financial variables and mental health in students. A national sample of 454 first year British undergraduate students completed measures of mental health and financial variables at up to four time points across a year. Cross-sectional relationships were found between poorer mental health and female gender, having a disability and non-white ethnicity. Greater financial difficulties predicted greater depression and stress cross-sectionally, and also predicted poorer anxiety, global mental health and alcohol dependence over time. Depression worsened over time for those who had considered abandoning studies or not coming to university for financial reasons, and there were effects for how students viewed their student loan. Anxiety and alcohol dependence also predicted worsening financial situation suggesting a bi-directional relationship. Financial difficulties appear to lead to poor mental health in students with the possibility of a vicious cycle occurring. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 9 | 43% |
Japan | 2 | 10% |
France | 1 | 5% |
Australia | 1 | 5% |
Unknown | 8 | 38% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 12 | 57% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 5 | 24% |
Scientists | 4 | 19% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 416 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Bachelor | 77 | 19% |
Student > Master | 56 | 13% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 48 | 12% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 31 | 7% |
Researcher | 28 | 7% |
Other | 46 | 11% |
Unknown | 130 | 31% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Psychology | 85 | 20% |
Social Sciences | 33 | 8% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 32 | 8% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 30 | 7% |
Business, Management and Accounting | 21 | 5% |
Other | 66 | 16% |
Unknown | 149 | 36% |