Effects of Stress in Adaptation to Undergraduate Life on Psychiatric Morbidity: Mediating Effects of Early Trauma and Adverse Family Factors

Frontiers in Psychiatry

Wanjie Tang¹  Tao Li²  Ting Chen³  Wanjun Guo⁴  Huiyao Wang⁴  Jeremy Coid⁴  Xiaohong Ma⁴  Qiuyue Lv⁴  Xiaojing Li⁴  Mingli Li⁴  Yajing Meng⁴  Huan Sun⁴  Wei Deng⁴  Liansheng Zhao⁴  Yamin Zhang⁴  Qiang Wang⁴  Xiang Liu⁶  Yingzhe Zhang⁶ 

[1] Centre for Psychology Education and Consultation, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital and Affiliated Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China;Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;Mental Health Education Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;West China Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China;

关键词: undergraduate students;    common mental health disorders;    adaptation;    stress;    childhood maltreatment;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyt.2022.538200

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

PurposeUniversity students experience high levels of stress, and the prevalence of depression is higher than in the general population. The reason is not clear. More effective interventions and better prevention are needed.MethodsWe did annual cross-sectional surveys of Chinese undergraduates 2014–2018 (mean age 18.7 [SD 2.1], N = 39,573). We measured adaptation to university life using the Adolescent Self-rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC) and common mental disorders using standardized self-report instruments. Regression analyses identified associations between childhood maltreatment, current family problems, stress in adaptation to undergraduate life, and psychiatric morbidity. Mediation analyses further tested relationships between these factors.ResultsChildhood maltreatment, current family problems, stress in adaptation, and psychiatric morbidity were all significantly associated with each other. The strongest association between childhood experiences and psychiatric morbidity was for sexual abuse and depression (OR = 3.39, 95%CI: 2.38–4.83, p < 0.001) and between stress from adaptation and somatic disorder (OR = 4.54, 95%CI: 3.62–5.68, p < 0.001). Associations between childhood maltreatment and stress from university life were partly mediated by psychiatric morbidity. Associations between family problems and psychiatric morbidity were mediated by stress from university life.ConclusionsStress from adaptation to university life and pressures from academic study exert stronger effects on psychiatric morbidity among students than childhood traumatic experiences and current family problems, although these factors are closely interrelated. Mental health services for students should focus on adaptation to university life and pressures from academic study as well as external factors of childhood trauma and family problems.

【 授权许可】

Unknown