Abstract
Background: In contemporary Belgium, the university or college experience has become an important transitional period in the life course. Culturally, these years are viewed as a time of transition, experimentation and risk-taking. This transitional period in life is not without risk: increasing attention – especially in the United States – is given to the elevated stress levels that university and college students experience, which can be linked to increased substance use and mental health problems. However, little is known about the interrelationships between study stress, substance use and mental health among the Flemish student population – stressing the need for research on this relevant student health problem. In addition, students do not live and study in a social vacuum: they are surrounded by peers and embedded in study programs. This context can potentially alter the interrelationships between study stress, substance use and mental health problems: (1) social support as a potential buffer and (2) the characteristics of the study program as a driver for inter-study-program variance. Little is however known on the impact of these social and organizational factors on the described interrelationships.
Objectives: The present BOF DOCPRO Bonus-project aims to address these shortcomings by examining the impact of student stress on both mental health problems and substance misuse, mediated by the on- and off-line social support available to the student and across different study programs.
Methods: More specifically, we will (1) study the interrelationships between study stress, the use of three substances (stimulants, prescription sleeping pills and cannabis) and mental health problems using the 2017 Head in the Clouds dataset (expected n = approx. 20.000). (2) We will use Structural Equation Modelling to test which theoretical model best mimics the role of on- and off-line support in these interrelationships: a direct effect, an indirect effect (via study stress) or a buffer effect (impacting on the path between stress and substance use/mental health). (3) We will employ multiple group SEM to assess how these relationships differ across the different study programs: do differing levels of knowledge and competition impact on these interrelationships? The two latter research questions will be addressed using a newly gathered dataset among the students of the Association University and Colleges of Antwerp.
Expected outcomes: The proposed study can have both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, it is the first study to explore the complex mechanisms underlying substance use and mental health problems among a large student population – with special attention for the role of social and organizational determinants. Practically, the resulting scientific knowledge potentially enables according effective preventative interventions to help students channel study stress and avoid detrimental health choices and mental health problems.
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