The mental health of higher education students and the role of finances and debt
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Division of Psychiatry
Abstract
The overall aim of my PhD is to investigate the mental health of students and how it may differ from that of their non-student counterparts.
My hypothesis is that participating in higher education is not a causal risk factor for mental health problems in young people. Nevertheless, despite similar prevalence, there may be different risk factors for mental health problems within the student population, and several of these are likely to be modifiable, with clear avenues for intervention within institutions' control. One such risk factor is university students' financial situation, such that I hypothesise that a worse financial situation would be associated with worse mental health in university students.
My hypothesis is that participating in higher education is not a causal risk factor for mental health problems in young people. Nevertheless, despite similar prevalence, there may be different risk factors for mental health problems within the student population, and several of these are likely to be modifiable, with clear avenues for intervention within institutions' control. One such risk factor is university students' financial situation, such that I hypothesise that a worse financial situation would be associated with worse mental health in university students.
Organisations
| Description | LSYPE (2): Analysis of mental health and well-being in higher education students and comparison with individuals across the cohort |
| Amount | £24,700 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | DFERPPU/2019/022 |
| Organisation | Department for Education |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 04/2020 |
| Description | Launch stall |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Organised and worked on a launch stall for the SENSE study. The stall was in various locations on campus in October/November and was decorated with posters and banners. Gave out branded pens, stickers and flyers, and chocolate. Spoke with students about the study and encouraged them to participate. Also spoke with staff members about how they could support the study. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | SENSE study website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Created and maintained a website for my PhD study, SENSE. Directed potential participants to the page for more info or to take part, when advertising the study in general emails/newsletters/posters/social media posts. From the website, participants could click to take part in the survey, which over 700 did. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.sensestudy.co.uk |
| Description | Twitter account for SENSE study |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Ran a Twitter account to encourage study participation and provide updates. Lots of engagement from fellow researchers in the field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.twitter.com/SENSEstudy |