Depression in College Freshman

College can be a fun and exciting time in a young person's life. It's a great opportunity to experience new things, and can lead to important moments of maturity and self-discovery. College can also be hectic, overwhelming and exhausting, and sometimes these constant stresses lead to problems like depression. While every college student is exposed to these various conditions at some point, freshmen often have added pressures related to being the new kids on campus.

Study Parameters

• A study was conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles that targeted 3,680 freshmen students from 50 different four-year institutions, asking them questions first in the fall of 2000 and then again after the school year was over. A report called "Your First College Year" was created from the research.

Study Findings

• The findings from this study showed that this period of time in a student's life can actually be very stressful and perilous, despite the established perception of college life as fun and carefree. This was demonstrated through a recorded increase in the percentage of students who reported feeling depressed at some point during the year, which went up from 8.2 percent to 16.3 percent. The percentage of students who rated their emotional health as "above average" also dropped from 52.4 percent to 44.9 percent over the same period of time. Ken Nafziger, a staff psychologist at the Penn State Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, was surprised by the findings of the study, because past studies have shown a decrease in the anxiety levels of students, as they became adjusted to college life.

Transition

• One explanation for this added level of anxiety and depression in college freshmen is the transition from home life to college life. While this new level of freedom can be very enjoyable for students, they are also forced to make many adult decisions on a daily basis that they have never encountered before. Even relatively simple decisions like nutrition, exercise and regular sleep patterns may be uncharted territory for a freshman. According to Kelly Manion, Penn State Residence Life coordinator, "You're trying to figure out who you are and where you fit in. You're trying to find your place in the world."

Perception

• Many people perceive and perpetuate the idea of college as the best time in a person's life. While this might be true for many people, this perception can add an element of pressure to new students, who may feel like they have to live up to these expectations. Christine Ackerman, area coordinator for Penn State Residence Life in East Halls, said, "A lot of times the perception is that students coming here should be having fun. We've been here and we understand that this is not always the case."

Outreach

• It is important to see beyond the "why" of college-freshman depression, to the more important issue of how these negative feelings and anxieties can be resolved. Manion recommended finding someone that you are close to and can talk about your feelings with. There is also the option of talking to an on-campus advisor or counselor, or seeking guidance from an off-campus professional.