Abstract
To examine financial circumstances among Norwegian higher education students and investigate associations between financial difficulties and health, academic outcomes and self-destructive behaviours, we used data from a recent national health survey from 2018 for higher education in Norway (the SHoT study). 50,054 full-time students (69.1% women; 30.9% men) aged 18–35 years participated and reported work status, income and experience of financial difficulties, self-reported mental health problems, deliberate self-harm and suicide attempts, somatic health complaints and exam failures in higher education. Students often experiencing financial difficulties (n = 3933, 7.9%) reported more mental health problems (HSCL-25; M = 2.1 vs 1.6), depression (24% vs 7.2%), anxiety (20.8% vs 6.7%), deliberate self-harm (12.2% vs 4.9%), attempted suicide (3.1% vs 0.5%), somatic health complaints (SSS8; M = 13.1 vs 7.4), having ever failed exams (45.5% vs 28.4%) and higher average number of failed exams (M = 1.1 vs 0.6) compared to peers not experiencing financial difficulties. These associations were robust to adjustments for age, gender, relationship status, immigrant background and study program. Strategies to alleviate problems associated with financial difficulties may be to improve the existing financial support to students, strengthen student mental health services, and expand services for financial counselling and guidance.
Highlights
To examine financial circumstances among Norwegian higher education students and investigate associations between financial difficulties and health, academic outcomes and self-destructive behaviours, we used data from a recent national health survey from 2018 for higher education in Norway. 50,054 full-time students (69.1% women; 30.9% men) aged 18–35 years participated and reported work status, income and experience of financial difficulties, self-reported mental health problems, deliberate self-harm and suicide attempts, somatic health complaints and exam failures in higher education
Part-time working was very common; 86% of the sample responded that they had paid work during the last year and the modal income in the sample was from 51-100,000 NOK [EUR 5,00010,000/USD 5,500-11,000]
Contrasted with students never experiencing financial difficulties, students often having financial difficulties had more symptoms of mental health problems (HSCL-25; b = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.46 – 0.51), more somatic complaints (SSS-8; b = 5.04, 95% CI = 4.82 – 5.27), and were 2-3 times more likely to have a depressive disorder (OR = 3.55, 95% CI = 3.23 – 3.91), and anxiety disorder (OR = 3.13, 95% CI = 2.83 – 3.46)
Summary
To examine financial circumstances among Norwegian higher education students and investigate associations between financial difficulties and health, academic outcomes and self-destructive behaviours, we used data from a recent national health survey from 2018 for higher education in Norway (the SHoT study). 50,054 full-time students (69.1% women; 30.9% men) aged 18–35 years participated and reported work status, income and experience of financial difficulties, self-reported mental health problems, deliberate self-harm and suicide attempts, somatic health complaints and exam failures in higher education. In a 2018 survey of 3000 UK students, 3 in 5 reported that they worried about being able to pay back their loans, and more than 80% worried about not being able to cover living expenses (Savethestudent, 2018) Objective financial indicators, such as size of debt and tuition fees, and problems paying bills have been shown to be associated with poorer health outcomes among students in higher education (Carney et al, 2005; Richardson et al, 2015; Walsemann et al, 2015), and low income has been related to self-harm, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in this group (Toprak et al, 2011). Subjective feelings of financial stress and concerns about financial circumstances have been linked to mental health problems and mental illness; to more aches, pains and reduced physical functioning; to sleep problems; and to worse general
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
