Psychosocial Moderators of Perceived Stress, Anxiety and Depression in University Students: An International Study

Abstract

Extensive research shows university students experience high levels of stress, which can lead to the development of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Preliminary evidence supports the role of psychosocial factors such as perceived social support (PSS) and campus connectedness (CC) as protective factors in the development of mental health problems in university students. However, research conducted on the potential ameliorating effects of social support on stress applying Cohen and Wills' (1985) stress-buffering hypothesis produced weak, inconsistent, and even contradictory results. In addition, little attention has been given to examining the protective role of CC in the relationships between perceived stress, anxiety, and depression. The current study examined the applicability of CC and PSS in buffering the relationships been perceived stress, anxiety, and depression across an international sample comprised of university students (N = 206) from Australia, Hong Kong, and the United States. The prediction that CC and PSS would moderate the relationships between perceived stress, anxiety, and depression was partially supported. The results indicated CC moderated the relationship between perceived stress and depression but did not moderate the relationship between perceived stress and anxiety. PSS did not moderate the relationship between perceived stress and depression or the relationship between perceived stress and anxiety, thus rejecting the stress-buffering hypothesis. These findings suggest less emphasis should be placed on PSS as a protective factor, with universities focusing on enhancing CC to reduce the high prevalence of mental health problems to promote psychological wellbeing among students.

Examining the Psychosocial and Academic Factors Predicting Depression and Anxiety Symptomology Across First-Year and Later-Year University Students

“…Higher levels of campus connectedness significantly predicted lower levels of anxiety symptoms, inconsistent with previous findings (Pidgeon et al, 2014;Williams & Galliher, 2006). The broader concept of campus connectedness was a significant predictor of anxiety, and social support from family was a significant predictor of depression symptoms.…”

Resilience, alexithymia, and university stress in relation to anxiety and problematic alcohol use among female university students

“…Alexithymia has been consistently linked to risky or problematic drinking in university, community and clinical samples (Cruise & Becerra, 2018;Lyvers, Simons, Hayes, & Thornberg, 2014;Thorberg et al, 2009), as well as the use of alcohol as an avoidant coping strategy to suppress negative affect (Bruce, Curren, & Williams, 2012;Corbin et al, 2013;Coriale et al, 2012;Lyvers, Coundouris, Edwards, & Thorberg, 2018). Like hazardous drinking, anxiety also shows high prevalence among Australian university students compared to the general population (Bitsika, Sharpley, & Peters, 2010), has a positive association with university-related stress (Pidgeon, McGrath, et al, 2014;Pidgeon, Rowe, et al, 2014) as well as alexithymia (Lyvers, Coundouris, et al, 2018;Lyvers, Hanigan, & Thorberg, 2018), and is negatively related to resilience (Bacchi & Licinio, 2017). Like hazardous drinking, anxiety also shows high prevalence among Australian university students compared to the general population (Bitsika, Sharpley, & Peters, 2010), has a positive association with university-related stress (Pidgeon, McGrath, et al, 2014;Pidgeon, Rowe, et al, 2014) as well as alexithymia (Lyvers, Coundouris, et al, 2018;Lyvers, Hanigan, & Thorberg, 2018), and is negatively related to resilience (Bacchi & Licinio, 2017).…”

“…Alexithymic students are likely to lack sufficient emotional self-regulation and social resources to foster resilience, and thus may be especially vulnerable to university stress and its adverse outcomes such as problematic drinking or persistent anxiety. Like hazardous drinking, anxiety also shows high prevalence among Australian university students compared to the general population (Bitsika, Sharpley, & Peters, 2010), has a positive association with university-related stress (Pidgeon, McGrath, et al, 2014;Pidgeon, Rowe, et al, 2014) as well as alexithymia (Lyvers, Coundouris, et al, 2018;Lyvers, Hanigan, & Thorberg, 2018), and is negatively related to resilience (Bacchi & Licinio, 2017). Based on the crucial roles of emotion self-regulation skills and social support in fostering resilience, the present study examined resilience in relation to alexithymia, university-related stress, and two common outcomes of stress -problematic drinking and anxiety -in a sample of female university students.…”

“…Resilience refers to the ability to adapt to, and cope with, adverse or stressful events (Williams, Ciarrochi, & Deane, 2010). In the university context, resilience can facilitate the management of academic demands, such as assessment deadlines and examinations, and enhance academic outcomes (Pidgeon, McGrath, Magya, Stapleton, & Lo, 2014). However, resilience requires internal and external resources for successful coping, including effective emotion regulation skills and accessible social support (Li, 2008;Williams et al, 2010;Yoon, Lee, Lee, Cho, & Lee, 2014).…”

Effects of Tai Chi Intervention on Perceived Stress, Anxiety, and Sleep in College Students

“…Stress is a part of our daily life experiences (Henderson, Snyder, Gupta, & Banich, 2012;Pidgeon, McGrath, Magya, Stapleton, & Lo, 2014). Stress itself has no harmful effects on people's cognitive, emotional, and physical functions.…”