Table 1.
Mean psychological distress and resilience scores of a sample of Australian university students by demographic and health characteristics (n = 2710).
| Variable | N or Mean | % or SD | K10 Score a (Mean ± SD) | BRS Score b (Mean ± SD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender *,† | ||||
| Male | 824 | 30.4 | 19.5 ± 7.5 | 3.5 ± 0.8 |
| Female | 1872 | 69.1 | 21.0 ± 7.9 | 3.2 ± 0.8 |
| Another gender identity | 14 | 0.5 | 25.2 ± 7.7 | 3.0 ± 0.7 |
| Age (years) (Mean ± SD) *,† | 26.9 | 9.5 | ||
| ≤20 years old | 688 | 25.4 | 21.9 ± 8.1 | 3.2 ± 0.8 |
| 21–24 years | 841 | 31.0 | 21.4 ± 7.7 | 3.2 ± 0.8 |
| 25–29 years | 475 | 17.5 | 21.2 ± 8.2 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| 30–39 years | 398 | 14.7 | 18.7 ± 7.0 | 3.4 ± 0.8 |
| ≥40 years | 308 | 11.4 | 16.9 ± 6.2 | 3.6 ± 0.8 |
| Country of birth c,*,† | ||||
| Australia | 2215 | 82.0 | 21.0 ± 7.9 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| Other | 486 | 18.0 | 18.6 ± 7.3 | 3.4 ± 0.8 |
| Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background *,† | ||||
| Yes | 75 | 2.8 | 24.1 ± 9.6 | 3.0 ± 1.0 |
| No | 2635 | 97.2 | 20.5 ± 7.7 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| Marital Status *,† | ||||
| Never married | 1858 | 68.6 | 21.4 ± 8.0 | 3.2 ± 0.8 |
| Married | 458 | 16.9 | 17.3 ± 6.0 | 3.5 ± 0.8 |
| Defacto | 287 | 10.6 | 20.6 ± 7.6 | 3.0 ± 0.9 |
| Separated | 35 | 1.3 | 21.2 ± 9.8 | 3.5 ± 0.9 |
| Divorced | 67 | 2.5 | 20.2 ± 8.9 | 3.5 ± 0.8 |
| Widowed | 5 | 0.2 | 13.6 ± 3.4 | 4.3 ± 0.6 |
| Living Situation *,† | ||||
| Own home | 410 | 15.1 | 17.4 ± 6.1 | 3.6 ± 0.8 |
| Parents home | 900 | 33.2 | 21.6 ± 7.7 | 3.2 ± 0.8 |
| On-campus | 223 | 8.2 | 20.8 ± 7.7 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| Renting | 1099 | 40.6 | 20.7 ± 8.0 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| Boarding/Homestay | 53 | 2.0 | 23.5 ± 9.3 | 3.1 ± 0.9 |
| Irregular | 25 | 0.9 | 25.1 ± 9.9 | 2.9 ± 0.9 |
| Receiving financial support *,† | ||||
| Yes | 1700 | 62.7 | 21.1 ± 7.9 | 3.2 ± 0.8 |
| No | 1010 | 37.3 | 19.7 ± 7.6 | 3.4 ± 0.8 |
| Type of degree *,† | ||||
| Undergraduate | 1917 | 70.7 | 21.2 ± 7.9 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| Postgraduate | 591 | 21.8 | 17.9 ± 6.5 | 3.5 ± 0.8 |
| Other d | 202 | 7.5 | 22.2 ± 9.0 | 3.2 ± 0.8 |
| Faculty of Study *,† | ||||
| Business and Law | 363 | 13.4 | 20.1 ± 7.7 | 3.4 ± 0.8 |
| Education and Arts | 663 | 24.5 | 21.8 ± 8.4 | 3.2 ± 0.8 |
| Engineering | 327 | 12.1 | 20.3 ± 7.4 | 3.4 ± 0.8 |
| Health and Medicine | 839 | 31.0 | 19.3 ± 7.1 | 3.4 ± 0.8 |
| Science | 370 | 13.7 | 21.2 ± 7.8 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| English Language and Foundation Studies | 148 | 5.5 | 22.8 ± 9.1 | 3.1 ± 0.8 |
| Number of years studying | ||||
| 1st year | 1055 | 38.9 | 21.0 ± 8.0 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| 2nd year | 553 | 20.4 | 20.5 ± 8.0 | 3.3 ± 0.9 |
| 3rd year | 530 | 19.6 | 20.4 ± 7.6 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| 4th year | 299 | 11.0 | 20.3 ± 7.3 | 3.4 ± 0.8 |
| 5th year or later | 273 | 10.1 | 20.1 ± 7.7 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| Physical activity (mins/week) (Mean ± SD) *,† | 350 | 307 | ||
| Meeting physical activity recommendations *,† | ||||
| Yes | 1685 | 62.2 | 20.0 ± 7.7 | 3.2 ± 0.8 |
| No | 1025 | 37.8 | 21.5 ± 8.0 | 3.4 ± 0.8 |
| Smoking Status *,† | ||||
| Smoker | 182 | 6.7 | 23.9 ± 8.9 | 3.1 ± 0.9 |
| Non-Smoker | 2528 | 93.3 | 20.3 ± 7.7 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| Sleep (hours/24h period) (Mean ± SD) * | 7 | 1 | ||
| Meeting sleep recommendations *,† | ||||
| No | 691 | 25.5 | 22.8 ± 8.8 | 3.2 ± 0.9 |
| Yes | 2019 | 74.5 | 19.8 ± 7.3 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| Average sitting time (mins/day) *,† (Mean ± SD) | 494 | 283 | ||
| AUDIT score (Mean ± SD) *,† | 5.2 | 5.2 | ||
| AUDIT classification *,† | ||||
| Abstinence/low risk | 2027 | 74.8 | 20.0 ± 7.7 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| Moderate risk | 549 | 20.3 | 21.9 ± 7.8 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| Harmful/hazardous use | 75 | 2.8 | 23.6 ± 8.5 | 3.1 ± 0.8 |
| Dependence | 59 | 2.2 | 26.0 ± 8.9 | 3.0 ± 0.9 |
| DUDIT score (Mean ± SD) *,† | 1.1 | 3.3 | ||
| DUDIT classification e,*,† | ||||
| No drug related problems | 2301 | 85.4 | 20.1 ± 7.7 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| Drug related problems | 384 | 14.2 | 23.0 ± 7.7 | 3.1 ± 0.8 |
| Heavily dependent on drugs | 11 | 0.4 | 35.9 ± 8.7 | 2.2 ± 1.0 |
| BMI (kg/m2) (Mean ± SD) *,† | 25.2 | 5.9 | ||
| BMI cut points *,† | ||||
| <18 kg/m2: Underweight | 131 | 4.8 | 21.4 ± 8.5 | 3.2 ± 0.9 |
| 18–24.9 kg/m2: Healthy weight | 1517 | 56.0 | 19.9 ± 7.4 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| 3.325–29.9 kg/m2: Overweight | 640 | 23.6 | 20.6 ± 7.9 | 3.3 ± 0.8 |
| >30 kg/m2: Obese | 422 | 15.6 | 22.7 ± 8.7 | 3.2 ± 0.9 |
a K-10 score range 10–50, higher score indicates higher psychological distress. b BRS score range 1–5, higher score indicates higher resilience. c n = 2701 (n = 9 unspecified). d Includes students enrolled in enabling (i.e., transition to university) courses and English language courses for international students. e n = 2696 as classifications are sex specific (n = 14 participants indicated other gender identity). * Indicates statistically significant difference in psychological distress at p < 0.2 level. † Indicates statistically significant difference in resilience at p < 0.2 level.