Suicide is among the leading causes of death for university students, particularly those with a history of mental health problems. Certain risk factors for suicidal ideation (SI) remain...Show moreSuicide is among the leading causes of death for university students, particularly those with a history of mental health problems. Certain risk factors for suicidal ideation (SI) remain underexplored, especially in the context of additional stressors introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as social isolation and online education. International students may be affected to a greater extent due to further challenges. The study aimed to investigate how loneliness and academic stress relate to SI and how these effects differed between pre- and peri-pandemic periods and between domestic and international students. Thus, for a cross-sectional online survey data was collected across five cohorts (2018 n = 340, 2019 n = 116, 2020 n = 207, 2021 spring n = 139, 2021 fall n = 215). Participants (N = 1017) consisted of Leiden University students with self-reported mood and stress problems who were 18 years or older (M = 21.1). As hypothesized, both loneliness and academic stress positively predicted SI. Unexpectedly, effects were stronger pre-pandemic. Loneliness had a greater impact on SI among domestic students, despite international students experiencing more academic stress and loneliness. Academic stress was not moderated by student status. The outcomes of the study confirm that university students were affected differently across distinct phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although mental health outcomes worsened during later pandemic phases, SI rates decreased. Future studies should explore underlying mechanisms that remain unclear.Show less
The aim of the present study was to investigate the moderating effect of self-compassionate coping on the association between academic stress and depressive symptoms in Dutch secondary vocational...Show moreThe aim of the present study was to investigate the moderating effect of self-compassionate coping on the association between academic stress and depressive symptoms in Dutch secondary vocational education (MBO) students and whether this effect differed on gender. This cross- sectional study consisted of an online questionnaire, completed by 158 MBO students and which measured academic stress, related constructs and coping strategies. Data was investigated through two multiple linear regressions: one investigating the whole sample and one investigating men and women separately. An independent samples t-test analyzed gender differences in self-compassion. Results indicated a positive association between academic stress and depressive symptoms in both the total sample and the two gender groups, as well as a negative association between self-compassionate coping and depressive symptoms. Self- compassionate coping was found not to have a moderating effect in the total sample, nor in either gender group. Moreover, no significant gender differences were found in either the amount of self-compassion students experienced, or its moderating effect. Findings showed that non- university students experience many of the same issues as university students do. Despite no moderating effect being found, a direct negative association between self-compassionate coping and depressive symptoms was established. These findings indicate that existing interventions for academic stress in university students need to be applied to non-university students, as such interventions could be of help in reducing this student population’s mental health issues. Additionally, interventions aimed at non-university students’ mental health should take self- compassionate coping into account as a possible protective factor for depressive symptoms.Show less
Background: Negative cognitive activity such as maladaptive repetitive thinking is not only experienced by individuals with a mental disorder, but also by the general population. However, not many...Show moreBackground: Negative cognitive activity such as maladaptive repetitive thinking is not only experienced by individuals with a mental disorder, but also by the general population. However, not many studies on this phenomenon include non-clinical samples, which causes a moderate gap in the field of research. This study focuses on the general student population to examine the relationship between academic stress, attentional control, maladaptive repetitive thinking, and sleep difficulty in an attempt to bridge the current gap. Previous research findings indicate a close link between these variables, as well as detrimental consequences when they play a significant role in one’s life. Methods: This study incorporated online survey data from 50 students of Leiden University to investigate the associations between academic stress, attentional control, maladaptive repetitive thinking, and sleep difficulty. Results: An increase in perceived academic stress predicted an increase in maladaptive repetitive thinking, while a decrease in attentional control capacity predicted an increase in maladaptive repetitive thinking. An increase in perceived academic stress and poor attentional control together predicted an increase in maladaptive repetitive thinking. And lastly, an increase in maladaptive repetitive thinking did not predict an increase in experienced sleep difficulty. Discussion: Limitations include a small sample size that decreases this study’s generalizability. However, this study contributes to information that brings awareness to the detrimental effects of maladaptive repetitive thinking. Conclusion: This study should inform people on the importance of providing the general (student) population with interventional strategies to potentially protect them against the consequences of maladaptive repetitive thinking.Show less
