Generalized Anxiety Disorder in First and Second Year Undergraduate Students in an Academically Rigorous University Setting

Background: Epidemiological data are needed to help guide the design of programs and policies to help meet the growing need for mental health services in the undergraduate community.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), as well as risk factors and the extent of unmet treatment need, in a population of first and second-year undergraduate students in an academically rigorous private urban mid-sized university.

Significance: The results of this study could be used by college mental health services for the development, provision and budgeting of resources for mental health services.

Methods: A self-administered survey of first and second-year students was conducted outside of cafeterias in a university with 4,000 undergraduates. The Generalized-Anxiety-Disorder-7 (GAD-7) diagnostic scale was utilized. A binary logistic regression model was formulated for GAD, which was defined as GAD-7 > 15. Study variables included race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, year of study (first-year/second-year), and permanent residence within 50 miles of campus.

Results: Among a convenience sample of 178 students: 57.2% first-year, 53.3% male, 70.4% Caucasian, 92.3% heterosexual, 19.3% with permanent residence within 50 miles of campus. The prevalence of GAD was 29.8%, 2.0% treated, 27.8% untreated. GAD was associated with permanent residence<50 miles of campus (OR=2.48, p=.024). There was a trend towards an association between GAD and non-Caucasian race (OR=1.89, p=.084). GAD was not associated with gender, sexual orientation or year of study.

Conclusions: Untreated Generalized Anxiety Disorder was highly prevalent among first and second-year undergraduates in a private mid-sized academically rigorous university setting.