Prevalence of mental disorders among Norwegian college and university students: a population-based cross-sectional analysis

Børge Sivertsen, Ann Kristin Skrindo Knudsen, Benedicte Kirkøen, Jens C Skogen, Bengt Oscar Lagerstrøm, Kari-Jussie Lønning, Ronald C Kessler, Anne Reneflot, Børge Sivertsen, Ann Kristin Skrindo Knudsen, Benedicte Kirkøen, Jens C Skogen, Bengt Oscar Lagerstrøm, Kari-Jussie Lønning, Ronald C Kessler, Anne Reneflot

Abstract

Background: Self-report data indicate a sharp increase in mental health problems among college and university students in recent years, but accurate prevalence estimates of mental disorders are lacking. The current study used a validated psychiatric diagnostic survey, developed into a self-administered electronic version, to examine the prevalence of common mental disorders in a large national sample of college and university students in Norway.

Methods: Participants (aged 18-35 years) from the national Students' Health and Wellbeing (SHOT) Study in 2022 were recruited to a follow-up online survey of mental disorders from January to February 2023 (n = 10,460). Current (30-days), 12-months and lifetime prevalence of common mental disorders were examined using a newly developed self-administered electronic version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 5.0).

Findings: The prevalence of a current mental disorder was high for both women (39.7% [2737/6886], 95% CI 38.6-40.9) and men (25.7% [751/2918], 95% CI 24.2-27.4). The most common disorders were major depressive episode (females 17.1% [1250/7329] and males 10.8% [331/3059]) and generalized anxiety disorder (females 16.0% [1157/7221] and males 8.2% [250/3032]), while 5.6% [387/6948] and 7.7% [228/2963] of the females and male students, respectively, fulfilled the criteria for an alcohol use disorder. The prevalence estimates for 12-month and lifetime were, as expected, even higher.

Interpretation: The findings suggest an alarmingly high prevalence of several mental disorders among Norwegian college and university students. Implications and potential methodological and contextual explanations of these findings are discussed.

Funding: Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.

Keywords: College and university students; Diagnostic interview; Epidemiological survey; Mental disorders; Prevalence.

Conflict of interest statement

In the past 3 years, RCK was a consultant for Cambridge Health Alliance, Canandaigua VA Medical Center, Holmusk, Partners Healthcare, Inc., RallyPoint Networks, Inc., and Sage Therapeutics. He has stock options in Cerebral Inc., Mirah, PYM, Roga Sciences and Verisense Health. All other authors declare no competing interests.

© 2023 The Author(s).

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow-chart of survey participation process.

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