Characteristics of University Students Supported by Counseling Services: Analysis of psychological tests and pulse rate variability

Objective The number of students who use counseling services is increasing in universities. We clarified the characteristics of the students who access counseling services using both psychological tests and pulse rate variability (PRV). Methods We recruited the participants for this study from the students who had counseling sessions at Kanazawa University (Group S). As a control group, we also recruited students who had no experience in counseling sessions (Group H). We obtained health information from the database of annual health check-ups. Participants received the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) III, Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Sukemune-Hiew (S-H) Resilience Test, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-JYZ (STAI). We also studied the SF-12v2 Health Survey. We examined the spectral analyses of pulse rate variability (PRV) by accelerating plethysmography. We performed linear analysis of PRV for LF, HF, and LF/HF as indexes of autonomic nervous function. We also performed non-linear analysis of PRV for the largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE). We examined participants’ blood for autoantibodies against glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) 65. Results A total of 105 students participated in this study. Group S had 37 participants (Male: 26, Female: 11) and Group H had 68 participants (Male: 27, Female 41). There were 12 males and two females who had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Group S. Group S had 1) lower Working Memory Index (WMI) despite relatively high Full-Scale IQ, 2) higher AQ scores, 3) lower resilience scores, 4) higher anxiety scores, 5)lower QOL in social health, and 6) shifting of autonomic nervous balance toward higher sympathetic activity. There were only two participants who had the anti-GAD65 antibody in Group S, and one participant had the anti-GAD65 antibody in Group H. Conclusion The results of our study revealed valuable information about the students who seek mental support in our university. Our results provide information that can be used in interventions for the university students who need counseling services.