UK (Commonwealth Union) – A recent study led by researchers from the University College London (UCL) reveals that young individuals pursuing higher education in England face a slightly elevated risk of experiencing depression and anxiety compared to their counterparts who are not enrolled in higher education.
Published in The Lancet Public Health, this research marks the first instance of such findings, indicating that higher education students exhibit higher levels of depression and anxiety when contrasted with their non-student peers. However, the study also suggests that this difference dissipates by the time individuals reach the age of 25.
Lead author Dr. Gemma Lewis, affiliated with UCL Psychiatry, underscores the significance of these findings by indicating that in the United Kingdom, there has been a noticeable uptick in mental health issues among young people in recent years. Consequently, there has been an increased emphasis on providing support for students. The study reveals disconcerting evidence that students may face a greater risk of depression and anxiety compared to their peers of the same age who are not pursuing higher education.
It says, “The first couple of years of higher education are a crucial time for development, so if we could improve the mental health of young people during this time it could have long term benefits for their health and wellbeing, as well as for their educational achievement and longer-term success.”
The researchers utilized data from two longitudinal studies conducted in England: The Longitudinal Studies of Young People in England (LSYPE1 and LSYPE2). LSYPE1 comprised 4,832 young individuals born in 1989-90, who were between the ages of 18 and 19 during the years 2007-2009. LSYPE2 involved 6,128 participants born in 1998-99, who were also aged 18-19 during the years 2016-2018, a period predating the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In both of these studies, slightly more than half of the participants pursued higher education.
Participants in these studies completed surveys related to their overall mental health, assessing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and social dysfunction, at various points throughout the years.
The researchers observed a marginal disparity in symptoms of depression and anxiety among individuals aged 18-19 between those attending higher education and those who were not enrolled in such institutions.
