ERIC Number: EJ858513
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0897-5264
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Examining Trends in Intake Rates, Client Symptoms, Hopelessness, and Suicidality in a University Counseling Center over 12 Years
Hoeppner, Bettina B.; Hoeppner, Susanne S.; Campbell, James F.
Journal of College Student Development, v50 n5 p539-550 Sep-Oct 2009
The question whether levels of psychopathology and symptom severity among university counseling center client populations are increasing or not has received a great deal of attention in professional psychology. We examined 12-year archival intake records of a university counseling center to test for trends regarding: (a) the overall number of student-clients seeking counseling, (b) the frequency with which specific symptoms were reported, (c) the number of times student-clients reported experiencing hopelessness at various levels of intensity, and (d) the number of times student-clients reported suicide ideation at two levels of intensity. The sample (n = 6,676) was predominantly female (69.2%), White (80.2%), and on average 23.1 years old (SD = 8.0). Individual intake records were converted into monthly counts, which were checked for linear trends over time using autoregressive models. No significant linear trends were found except for a small decreasing trend regarding the number of intake clients reporting advanced suicide ideation ([beta] = -0.019, p = 0.027). Our findings suggest a long-term (i.e., more than 10-year) stability of student-clients' self-reported symptoms, and corroborate previous findings of short-term (i.e., 5-8 years) stability of client distress at intake over time. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Counseling Services, Suicide, Psychopathology, Guidance Centers, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Psychological Patterns, College Students, Trend Analysis, Access to Health Care, At Risk Persons, Questionnaires, Rural Schools, Student Motivation, Physical Health, Mental Health, Anxiety, Conflict, Adjustment (to Environment), Cognitive Processes
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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