Abstract Body: Increasing mental health and well-being concerns among college students should be addressed by appropriate healthcare services utilization (HSU). This study examines the relationship between HSU and depression among undergraduate students at a large southeastern university. We hypothesized that students with increasing depression scores, poor or fair health status, and female gender would have higher HSU.
Students in this cross-sectional study completed a self-reported health survey including depression via Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), HSU, and other characteristics. Logistic regression was used to independently examine the association between outcomes including healthcare and mental HSU, within the past 3 and 12 months, with and without hospitalization. Predictor variables included depression, overall health, and sociodemographic characteristics.
Of the 505 students, the mean depression score was 5.2, indicating mild depression, 378 (74.8%) identified as female, 281 (55.8%) reported a “good” health status. Healthcare services were utilized by 78 (16.6%) in the past 3 months and 26 (5.5%) reported hospitalization in the past 12 months. Mental healthcare services were used by 51 (13.7%) in the past 3 months and 15 (3.2%) reported being hospitalized for mental health in the past 12 months.
In covariate-adjusted models, the odds of HSU in the past 3 months increased by 17% per unit increase in depression [OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.23]. The odds of hospitalization in the past 12 months increased by 8% per unit increase in depression [OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.16], and decreased by 74% for those with “good” health compared to “poor or fair” health [OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.69]. The odds of mental HSU in the past 3 months increased by 16% per unit increase in depression [OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.23], and the odds for females were 3.47 times the odds of males [OR: 3.47, 95% CI: 1.30, 12.1]. The odds of mental hospitalization in the past 12 months increased by 12% per unit increase in depression [OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.21].
In conclusion, depression was the most prominent predictor of HSU across all outcomes. Students who reported “good” overall health were less likely to be hospitalized in the past 12 months and females were more likely than males to use mental healthcare services in the past 3 months. Comprehensive healthcare assessments are needed to aid in early identification and treatment of health conditions to promote better overall health.