Students experience higher psychological distress compared to their peers in the general population, with certain academic disciplines showing elevated levels. While gender, student status, and primary language have minimal impact on distress levels, financial pressures, academic field, resilience, time commitments, and family care are significant contributors. Resilience is associated with lower distress and higher well-being. Additionally, psychological distress is more common among younger on-campus students with lower education levels, poor sleep, fatigue, and low self-esteem.
Citation: Leahy, C.M., Peterson, R.F., Wilson, I.G., Newbury, J.W., Tonkin, A.L., Turnbull, D., Distress Levels and Self-Reported Treatment Rates for Medicine, Law, Psychology and Mechanical Engineering Tertiary Students: Cross-Sectional Study. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2010. (link)
Citation: Mulder, A. M., & Cashin, A., Health and wellbeing in students with very high psychological distress from a regional Australian university. Advances in Mental Health, 2015. (link)
Citation: Larcombe, W., Finch, S., Sore, R., Murray, C. M., Kentish, S., Mulder, R. A., … Williams, D. A., Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of psychological distress among students at an Australian university. Studies in Higher Education, 2014. (link)
Citation: Bore, M., Kelly, B., Nair, B., Potential predictors of psychological distress and well-being in medical students: a cross-sectional pilot study. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 2016. (link)
