University students are often portrayed as being at greater risk of mental health problems than their non-student peers, but new Australian research suggests the picture may be more complex. Researchers from the University of Canberra compared the mental health and wellbeing of more than 1,700 young Australians and found no meaningful differences in overall psychological distress between university students and non-students. The study did, however, identify a key risk factor; students balancing full-time study with full-time employment reported substantially higher levels of distress than both their student peers and non-students working full-time. These findings highlight the importance of universities implementing policies and support services that help students manage competing academic, employment and financial demands, such as initiatives that promote protective factors for mental wellbeing, including regular physical activity.
Citation: Crisp, D., Albrecht, S., Rickwood, D. Comparing the mental health of Australian university students with that of young people who are not in higher education. Higher Education. 2025.
