Age, Financial Dependence, and Social Support as they relate to College Mental Health

Method

Participants

Four-hundred and five participants took part in the current study, 404 were analyzed due to 1 participant missing data. Of the 404 participants 44.6% were male, 94.3% Caucasian, mean age 28.5 (standard deviation of 10.890, and ranged from 18-62).

Materials

A collection of self-report questionnaires were used to collect demographic information such as age, and financial dependence on family (yes vs. no). Age was recoded into two categories, 20 & under and 21 & over, so that each group included approximately 50% of the participants.

Total Social Support The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support was used to assess total social support (Zimet et al., 1988). The scale consists of 12 questions (4 related to each dimension of social support: family, friend, and significant other) the total amount of social support is calculated by summing the subcategory scores. Example statements that participants were asked to respond to include, “There is a special person who is around when I am in need,” “My family really tries to help me,” and, “I can count on my friends when things go wrong,” participants responded on a 7-point scale (1-Very Strongly Disagree to 7-Very Strongly Agree), higher scores are indicative of greater perceived social support.

Loneliness The Revised UCLA Loneliness Scales was used to assess loneliness (Russell, Peplau, Cutrona, 1980). The scale consists of 20 statements related to one’s subjective feelings of loneliness, for example, “I have nobody to talk to,” “There is no one I can turn to,” and “I feel left out.” Participants rate each statement on a 4 point scale (1- I have never to 4- I have felt this way often). Higher scores indicate greater loneliness. The scale was originally developed for use by college students.

Depression Depression was measured using the Beck’s Depression Inventory (Beck, 1961). The Inventory consists of 21 questions. The Inventory is structured such that participants need to select the option that best describes themselves from the ones given, for example “0-I do not feel sad, 1-I feel sad, 2-I am sad all the time and I can't snap out of it, 3-I am so sad and unhappy that I can't stand it,” and “0- I am not particularly discouraged about the future, 1- I feel discouraged about the future, 2- I feel I have nothing to look forward to, 3- I feel the future is hopeless and that things cannot improve.” Higher scores represent more severe depression. The range of possible scores on the Beck’s depression inventory are zero, indicative of answering 0 on all questions, to 63, indicative of answering 3 on all questions. The Beck’s depression inventory divides the possible scores into six categories of depression 1-10 (These ups and downs are considered normal), 11-16 (Mild mood disturbances), 17-20 (Border line clinical depression), 21-30 (moderate depression), 31-40 (severe depression), over 40 (Extreme depression).

Trait Anxiety and State Anxiety The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to measure trait anxiety and state anxiety (Spielberger, Gorsuch, Lushene, Vagg, & Jacobs, 1983). The STAI consists of 40 total items, 20 targeting trait anxiety and 20 targeting state anxiety. Trait anxiety items include, “I am content; I am a steady person,” and, “I worry too much over something that really doesn’t matter.” State anxiety items include, “I feel calm; I feel secure,” and “I am tense; I am worried.” All items are answered using a 4-point scale (1-almost never to 4- almost always.

Procedure

Flyers promoting the project were placed outside introductory psychology classes at two large Midwestern universities and three large Midwestern Community Colleges. Those that expressed interest, 650 in total, were mailed the set of self-report questionnaires.

Abstract Introduction Methods          Loneliness Results Depression Results Trait Anxiety Results State Anxiety Results Discussion References Tables