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2009 mtvUAP Poll - Half of Us Flipbook PDF
mtvU AP 2009 Economy, College Stress and Mental Health Poll Methodology and Sample Selection The mtvU / Associated Press
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mtvU AP 2009 Economy, College Stress and Mental Health Poll
Methodology and Sample Selection The mtvU / Associated Press poll was conducted April 22 – May 4, 2009 and included interviews with 2,240 undergraduate students at 40 randomly chosen four year-schools across the Country. The survey was conducted for the Associated Press and mtvU by Edison Media Research of Somerville, NJ, under the direction and supervision of AP’s polling unit. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.0 percent.
KEY FINDINGS:
For the second year in a row, mtvU and the Jed Foundation have partnered with the AP to explore the emotional health of today's college students. We've seen consistent results from year to year, and the stability of the data illustrates that stress remains a part of the college experience. Our results show that stress among students is a significant issue that deserves attention, particularly for students who may be at risk of developing more serious problems. This year, the Poll also explored how students are being impacted by increasing financial pressures. Stress and the college experience: With 85% of students reporting they experience stress on a daily basis (up from 80% last year), it is clear that being stressed is a fact of life on college campuses today. Even in light of larger national issues/crisis, school-related concerns remain the key drivers of student stress. A lot/some impact
March 2008
A lot/some impact
May 2009
School Work
74%
School Work
77%
Grades in School
71%
Grades in School
74%
Financial woes
62%
Financial woes
67%
Extracurricular activities
50%
Family issues
54%
Family issues
50%
Relationship/dating
53%
Relationship/dating
50%
Extracurricular activities
51%
Friends
39%
Friends
39%
Physical health
36%
Job
36%
Job
33%
Physical health
35%
This year, 52% of students report that the economy has been a source of stress (16% a lot/36% some impact) The impact of stress can be seen across all areas of students’ lives, affecting them both academically and socially. 6 in 10 students report having felt so stressed they couldn’t get their work done on one or more occasions (41% once or twice/19% several times) 53% of students report having felt so stressed they didn’t want to hang out with friends on one or more occasions (35% once or twice/18% several times)
Low energy levels, sleep troubles and appetite issues are among the most commonly experienced symptoms that can indicate emotional health problems.
Experienced Over the last two weeks
May 2009 Several days/More than half the days/Nearly every day
Feeling Tired or having little energy Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or sleeping too much Poor appetite or overeating Feeling down, depressed or hopeless Trouble concentrating on things such as reading the newspaper, watching TV Little interest or pleasure in doing things Feeling bad about yourself, or that you are a failure/let family down Moving or speaking so slowly that other people noticed or the opposite Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or hurting yourself in some way
69% 55% 45% 42% 39% 38% 37% 21% 11%
One out of every 10 students is reporting signs of moderate to severe depression. An alarming number of students have reached crisis mode
17% of students overall report that their friends have talked about wanting to end their lives 10% say a friend has made a suicide attempt 7% of students have seriously thought about ending their own lives in the past year
Where to turn: Students are confident in the resources that are available to them when they experience stress or suicidal thoughts; roughly 4 in 5 (84%) say they are sure of where they would go for help if they were in emotional distress. However, they are more likely to reach out to their friends and family before turning to professional sources for help.
77% of students say they would turn to friends for help 67% of students say they would turn to parents for help
While about half of students report being familiar with the counseling resources available on their campus (48% “somewhat/very familiar”), fewer students would seek them out.
20% of students say they would turn to school counseling for help 6% of students say they would turn to a Resident Advisor 3% of students say they would turn to a crisis hotline
Resource-disconnect for those that need it the most: Among students reporting signs of moderate to severe depression, 47 percent of state that they are not familiar with the counseling resources available on their campuses, and only 32 percent received any support or treatment from a counselor or mental health professional since beginning college.
IMPACT OF THE ECONOMY
While school remains a top stressor for students, it is undeniable that they are feeling the effects of the downturn in the economy
Nearly 1 in 3 (32%) college students say financial pressures are a big source of daily stress for them, up from 27% last year 17% had seriously considered dropping out of school in the past three months, and financial pressures are the main reason cited as the cause (54%) 7% had trouble getting a student loan funded because their bank was having trouble 57% are at least somewhat worried they won’t be able to find a job after graduation (63% among Seniors)
For those 1 in 5 students (18%) students who report having a parent who lost their job since the beginning of the school year, the impact of the poor economy is intensified.
Compared to students whose parents have not experienced job loss, these students are more likely to be dealing with negative thoughts related to school completion and job prospects and to be preoccupied with worry. More likely to have considered dropping out of school: 27% vs. 14% More likely to be very worried about finding a job for the summer: 23% vs. 11% More likely to say they worry about their parents financial situation A LOT: 55% vs. 28% Less likely to find college to be definitely worth the time and money: 43% vs. 54% These students are also more vulnerable to having negative thoughts related to their lives in general. There also seems to be a particular opportunity to reach out to this group to make sure they know where to turn when they need support. More likely to have considered talking to a counselor: 36% vs. 27% Less sure of the resources available to them; 53% vs. 63% More likely to have thought about ending their own life: 13% vs. 5%
STUDENTS FACE AN UNCERTAIN JOB MARKET
57 percent of the students polled are worried they won’t be able to find a job after graduation, with this number rising to 63 percent among students in their Senior year of college. 10 percent of those polled do not plan to return to school next year because they will be taking time off to work.
Yet, the study shows that many students are maintaining a positive outlook and taking control of their futures by adjusting their plans in response to the difficult job market:
74% of student’s today say that they are somewhat/very happy with how things are generally going in their lives compared to 64% in the March 2008 study. 82% think their college education so far has been worth the time and money they have spent. Nearly one in five say they made the decision to go to graduate school or professional school because they think they might not be able to get a job with just an undergraduate degree. Roughly one in 10 changed their major this year because they were worried about job prospects.
Additionally, during the summer, students report planning to fit more into their schedule this year compared to last year
The number of students planning to work in a temporary summer job remains flat vs. last year (52%) 27% of students report working at a permanent job this summer compared to 20% last summer 13% of students report planning to work a paid internship compared to 8% last summer
36% of students plan to take classes this summer compared to 25% last summer