Presentation
Transfer students: a hidden vulnerable population
American Public Health Association
(2018)
Abstract
Transfer students make up 14% of the college student population in the California State University (CSU) system. How their health needs differ from students who begin their college career at a 4-year institution (“continuous” students) is unknown. Recent research on CSU students found that transfer students have higher rates of food insecurity than continuous students and that food insecurity is associated with an increased mental health burden. Depression is the most common mental health problem among college students. We aimed to understand whether there are differences in the prevalence of depression between transfer and continuous students. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of more than 500 junior and senior Public Health majors at a large, public comprehensive university in the CSU system. Using validated scales, we measured depression status, demographic factors, transfer status, family educational attainment, subjective social status, socio-economic status, and experiences of discrimination. Results: The prevalence of depression in our student population was 58%. Preliminary analyses show that transfer students have a higher burden of depression than students who began their college career at a 4-year institution. Prevalence of mild depression was 7% higher among transfer students compared to continuous students, 10% higher for moderate depression, 50% higher for moderately severe depression, and 200% higher for severe depression. Conclusions: Transfer students are a largely unrecognized vulnerable population on college campuses. Schools should evaluate whether programming specifically targeted at the mental, socio-emotional, and material needs of transfer students is appropriate and, if so, provide such targeted programming.
Keywords
- Depression,
- College Students
Disciplines
Publication Date
November 14, 2018
Location
San Diego, CA
Citation Information
Justin Menchaca, Michelle Laine, Justin Carbonel, Daniel Cao, et al.. "Transfer students: a hidden vulnerable population" American Public Health Association (2018) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/miranda_worthen/35/