Prevalence of negative life events in students: a quantitative investigation

Commencing higher education coincides with change of life circumstances which increases exposure to negative life events (NLE). These relatively common events can have lasting impacts on student mental health. An exploratory study was conducted to examine the frequency of NLE associated mental health outcomes, and event co-occurrence in a student sample. Six-hundred-and-fifty Australian university students completed the Negative Life Events Scale for Students and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale. An exploratory factor analysis on the experience of NLE in the last 12 months examined co-occurrence of events and associated vulnerability. Ninety-eight percent of students experienced at least one NLE, and 50% of events were experienced in the last year. Events relating to academic problems and domestic violence substantially impacted mental health, were common, and occurred recently. Co-occurrence of some events was found. These findings confirm the high prevalence of NLE among university students. These insights could inform targeted support programs to protect student mental health.