Perceived stress, mental health symptoms, and deleterious behaviors during the transition to college

Background: This study examined associations between different sources of chronic perceived stress and deleterious behaviors (eating disorder symptoms, insufficient sleep, and insufficient vigorous physical activity) among first-year college students. Methods: The study used data on 885 first-year students (ages 18–20) at a large public university in North Carolina. The prevalence of deleterious behaviors was evaluated. Associations were estimated between different sources of chronic perceived stress (academic, future, peers, friendships, romantic, appearance, health, chronic illness, financial, work, family) and health behaviors after controlling for psychosocial supports and demographics. Moderating effects of gender and moderate-severe anxiety/depression symptoms were also tested. Results: 19% of first-year student reported symptoms of eating disorders, 42% insufficient sleep, and 43% insufficient vigorous physical activity. Perceived chronic stress increased the odds of reporting these deleterious behaviors. These effects were not moderated by gender or moderate-severe anxiety/depression symptoms. Appearance- and health-related stress were associated with eating disorder symptoms; health- and romantic-related stress were associated with insufficient sleep; and health-related stress was associated with insufficient vigorous physical activity. Limitations: Outcomes were survey-based. The study was based on cross-sectional data from a single university, so the direction of causality cannot be determined, and more work needs to be done to determine whether this would extend to other populations.