Differences and Demographic Variations in Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms Among US College Students Self-selecting Lecture-based and Physical Activity-Based Classes
Abstract
Background: Colleges in the United States (U.S.) provide general education health and wellness classes to promote physical activity (PA), which may improve student mental health. However, it is unclear whether students experiencing mental health difficulties self-select these classes. This study explored whether levels of perceived stress and depressive symptoms differed between students self-selecting PA-based and lecture-based general health and wellness classes.
Methods: Data were collected through an online survey from a volunteer sample of students at a large Northeastern US university enrolled in general education health and wellness classes. Participants self-reported demographics, class enrollment, perceived stress using the Perceived Stress Scale-10, and depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale short-form.
Results: Overall, n = 6864 students responded. Independent samples t-tests and chi-squared tests found participants enrolled in PA-based classes reported significantly lower levels of both perceived stress (p < 0.001) and depressive symptoms (p < 0.001). Levels of stress and depression also varied between demographics (i.e., gender, race, sexual orientation).
Conclusion: The current findings suggest differences exist in how students self-select PA classes based on mental distress. Although certain variables of interest were nonsignificant, this research can still inform tertiary institutions’ policy on general education health and wellness classes to maximize their ability to improve student mental health.
Keywords: physical activity, health promotion, mental health
How to Cite:
Field-Gibson, R., Peterson, K., Crescent, C., Duffey, M. & Bopp, M., (2025) “Differences and Demographic Variations in Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms Among US College Students Self-selecting Lecture-based and Physical Activity-Based Classes”, Building Healthy Academic Communities 9(3), 25-38. doi: https://doi.org/10.18061/bhac.5851
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