IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i16p2864-d256522.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Changes in Undergraduate Students’ Psychological Well-Being as They Experience University Life

Author

Listed:
  • Xinqiao Liu

    (Graduate School of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
    China Institute for Educational Finance Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

  • Siqing Ping

    (Department of Public Policy & Management, Guangzhou Administration School, Guangzhou 510070, China)

  • Wenjuan Gao

    (Graduate School of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

Abstract

The onset of most lifetime mental disorders occurs during adolescence, and the years in college, as the final stage of adolescence in a broad sense, deserve attention in this respect. The psychological well-being of undergraduate students can influence not only their academic and professional success, but also the development of society as a whole. Although previous studies suggested psychiatric disorders are common in the adult population, there was little consistent information available about undergraduate students’ mental health problems. This research aimed to describe the changes in depression, anxiety, and stress of Chinese full-time undergraduate students as they experienced university life using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). The main conclusions of our study were as follows: (1) on average, students’ severity scores of depression during the four academic years varied between 7.22 and 7.79, while stress scores ranged from 9.53 to 11.68. However, the anxiety scores of college students in the first three years turned out to be 7.40, 7.24 and 7.10, respectively, slightly overtaking the normal threshold of 7. These results indicated that Chinese college students, in general, were mentally healthy with regard to depression and stress, but their average anxiety levels were beyond normal in the first three years. (2) As for the proportions of students with different degrees of severity, approximately 38% to 43% of college students were above the normal level of anxiety, about 35% above the normal level of depression, and around 20% to 30% above the normal level of stress. (3) There were significant differences in the psychological health states of students of different years, especially among the sophomores, juniors, and seniors; the highest score of depression, anxiety, and stress all appeared in the first or second year on average, but some improvements were achieved in the third and last years. The findings suggested that colleges and universities need to pay special attention to psychologically unhealthy students, and with concerted efforts by the government, formulate mental health policies in the prevention, detection, and treatment of students’ psychiatric disorders, rather than just focusing on their average levels of mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinqiao Liu & Siqing Ping & Wenjuan Gao, 2019. "Changes in Undergraduate Students’ Psychological Well-Being as They Experience University Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-14, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:16:p:2864-:d:256522
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/16/2864/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/16/2864/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xinqiao Liu & Xueheng Gao & Siqing Ping, 2019. "Post-1990s College Students Academic Sustainability: The Role of Negative Emotions, Achievement Goals, and Self-efficacy on Academic Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Sau Huu Nguyen & Long Hoang Nguyen & Giang Thu Vu & Cuong Tat Nguyen & Thu Hoai Thi Le & Bach Xuan Tran & Carl A. Latkin & Cyrus S. H. Ho & Roger C. M. Ho, 2019. "Health-Related Quality of Life Impairment among Patients with Different Skin Diseases in Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-10, January.
    3. Roger C. M. Ho & Anna C. Chua & Bach X. Tran & Carol C. Choo & Syeda Fabeha Husain & Giang T. Vu & Roger S. McIntyre & Cyrus S. H. Ho, 2018. "Factors Associated with the Risk of Developing Coronary Artery Disease in Medicated Patients with Major Depressive Disorder," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-13, September.
    4. Thuc Thi Minh Vu & Thieu Van Le & Anh Kim Dang & Long Hoang Nguyen & Binh Cong Nguyen & Bach Xuan Tran & Carl A. Latkin & Cyrus S. H. Ho & Roger C. M. Ho, 2019. "Socioeconomic Vulnerability to Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-10, January.
    5. Tian Ci Quek & Cyrus SH. Ho & Carol C. Choo & Long H. Nguyen & Bach X. Tran & Roger C. Ho, 2018. "Misophonia in Singaporean Psychiatric Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-6, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. María Fernanda Páramo & Fernando Cadaveira & Carolina Tinajero & María Soledad Rodríguez, 2020. "Binge Drinking, Cannabis Co-Consumption and Academic Achievement in First Year University Students in Spain: Academic Adjustment as a Mediator," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Shuo Cheng & Cunxian Jia & Yongjie Wang, 2020. "Only Children Were Associated with Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms among College Students in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-14, June.
    3. Shuo Cheng & Di An & Zhiying Yao & Jenny Jing-Wen Liu & Xuan Ning & Josephine Pui-Hing Wong & Kenneth Po-Lun Fung & Mandana Vahabi & Maurice Kwong-Lai Poon & Janet Yamada & Shengli Cheng & Jianguo Gao, 2021. "Association between Mental Health Knowledge Level and Depressive Symptoms among Chinese College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, February.
    4. Zhuo-Ya Yang & Ya-Ting Wang & Lei Xia & Ying-Can Zheng & Zheng-Zhi Feng, 2022. "The Relationships between Prospection, Self-Efficacy, and Depression in College Students with Cross-Lagged Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-11, November.
    5. Saule Sipaviciene, 2022. "The Relationships between Psychological Well-Being, Emotions and Coping in COVID-19 Environment: The Gender Aspect for Postgraduate Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-13, August.
    6. Josep Petchamé & Ignasi Iriondo & Garazi Azanza, 2022. "“Seeing and Being Seen” or Just “Seeing” in a Smart Classroom Context When Videoconferencing: A User Experience-Based Qualitative Research on the Use of Cameras," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-13, August.
    7. Naser M. Alotaibi & Moh A. Alkhamis & Mashael Alrasheedi & Khuloud Alotaibi & Latifa Alduaij & Fatemah Alazemi & Danah Alfaraj & Danah Alrowaili, 2024. "Psychological Disorders and Coping among Undergraduate College Students: Advocating for Students’ Counselling Services at Kuwait University," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-16, February.
    8. Naizhu Huang & Shaoping Qiu & Amin Alizadeh & Hongchao Wu, 2020. "How Incivility and Academic Stress Influence Psychological Health among College Students: The Moderating Role of Gratitude," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-10, May.
    9. Yingying Jiang & Chan Lu & Jing Chen & Yufeng Miao & Yuguo Li & Qihong Deng, 2022. "Happiness in University Students: Personal, Familial, and Social Factors: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-12, April.
    10. Xinqiao Liu & Yifan Zhang & Wenjuan Gao & Xiaojie Cao, 2023. "Developmental trajectories of depression, anxiety, and stress among college students: a piecewise growth mixture model analysis," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    11. Cuixia Zhang & Yaliu Yang & Conghu Liu, 2022. "Knowledge Management-Based Mental Health Service Model: Sustainable Application during College Students’ Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-19, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bach Xuan Tran & Roger S. McIntyre & Carl A. Latkin & Hai Thanh Phan & Giang Thu Vu & Huong Lan Thi Nguyen & Kenneth K. Gwee & Cyrus S. H. Ho & Roger C. M. Ho, 2019. "The Current Research Landscape on the Artificial Intelligence Application in the Management of Depressive Disorders: A Bibliometric Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Hai Minh Vu & Long Hoang Nguyen & Tung Hoang Tran & Kiet Tuan Huy Pham & Hai Thanh Phan & Hieu Ngoc Nguyen & Bach Xuan Tran & Carl A. Latkin & Cyrus S.H. Ho & Roger C.M. Ho, 2019. "Effects of Chronic Comorbidities on the Health-Related Quality of Life among Older Patients after Falls in Vietnamese Hospitals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-9, September.
    3. Diego Bellini & Alberto Crescentini & Giovanna Zanolla & Serena Cubico & Giuseppe Favretto & Lorenzo Faccincani & Piermatteo Ardolino & Giovanna Gianesini, 2019. "Mathematical Competence Scale (MCS) for Primary School: The Psychometric Properties and the Validation of an Instrument to Enhance the Sustainability of Talents Development through the Numeracy Skills," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Yao Zhang & Jianxiu Liu & Yi Zhang & Limei Ke & Ruidong Liu, 2022. "Interactive Compensation Effects of Physical Activity and Sleep on Mental Health: A Longitudinal Panel Study among Chinese College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-13, September.
    5. Yao Zhang & Haoyu Zhang & Xindong Ma & Qian Di, 2020. "Mental Health Problems during the COVID-19 Pandemics and the Mitigation Effects of Exercise: A Longitudinal Study of College Students in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-16, May.
    6. Cristina Alvarez-Peregrina & Cesar Villa-Collar & Cristina Andreu-Vázquez & Miguel Ángel Sánchez-Tena, 2021. "Influence of Vision on Educational Performance: A Multivariate Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-7, April.
    7. Travis Tian-Ci Quek & Wilson Wai-San Tam & Bach X. Tran & Min Zhang & Zhisong Zhang & Cyrus Su-Hui Ho & Roger Chun-Man Ho, 2019. "The Global Prevalence of Anxiety Among Medical Students: A Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-18, July.
    8. Marta Siepsiak & Anna Maria Sobczak & Bartosz Bohaterewicz & Łukasz Cichocki & Wojciech Łukasz Dragan, 2020. "Prevalence of Misophonia and Correlates of Its Symptoms among Inpatients with Depression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-11, July.
    9. Aitana Fernández-Sogorb & María Vicent & Carolina Gonzálvez & Ricardo Sanmartín & Antonio Miguel Pérez-Sánchez & José Manuel García-Fernández, 2020. "Attributional Style in Mathematics across Anxiety Profiles in Spanish Children," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-11, February.
    10. María Pilar Aparicio-Flores & José María Esteve-Faubel & Rosa Pilar Esteve-Faubel & José Daniel Álvarez-Teruel, 2020. "High Academic Self-Efficacy and Dispositional Empathy in Future Teachers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-16, August.
    11. Linke Yu & Mariah Lecompte & Weiguo Zhang & Peizhong Wang & Lixia Yang, 2021. "Sociodemographic and COVID-Related Predictors for Mental Health Condition of Mainland Chinese in Canada Amidst the Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
    12. Antonia Ferrer-Torres & Lydia Giménez-Llort, 2022. "Misophonia: A Systematic Review of Current and Future Trends in This Emerging Clinical Field," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-26, June.
    13. Dorota Łojko & Maciej Owecki & Aleksandra Suwalska, 2019. "Impaired Glucose Metabolism in Bipolar Patients: The Role of Psychiatrists in Its Detection and Management," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-12, March.
    14. Long Hoang Nguyen & Giang Thu Vu & Giang Hai Ha & Cuong Tat Nguyen & Hai Minh Vu & Tien Quoc Nguyen & Tung Hoang Tran & Kiet Tuan Huy Pham & Carl A. Latkin & Bach Xuan Tran & Roger C.M. Ho & Cyrus S.H, 2020. "Fear of Falling among Older Patients Admitted to Hospital after Falls in Vietnam: Prevalence, Associated Factors and Correlation with Impaired Health-Related Quality of Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-12, April.
    15. Marta Siepsiak & Andrzej Śliwerski & Wojciech Łukasz Dragan, 2020. "Development and Psychometric Properties of MisoQuest—A New Self-Report Questionnaire for Misophonia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-15, March.
    16. Karen M. Davison & Shen (Lamson) Lin & Hongmei Tong & Karen M. Kobayashi & Jose G. Mora-Almanza & Esme Fuller-Thomson, 2020. "Nutritional Factors, Physical Health and Immigrant Status Are Associated with Anxiety Disorders among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Findings from Baseline Data of The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Ag," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-19, February.
    17. Cristina Mazza & Eleonora Ricci & Silvia Biondi & Marco Colasanti & Stefano Ferracuti & Christian Napoli & Paolo Roma, 2020. "A Nationwide Survey of Psychological Distress among Italian People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-14, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:16:p:2864-:d:256522. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.