Perceived Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Outcomes Among Students of Early Entrance College Programs

Introduction Mental health disorders affect adolescents and children and have resulted in many academic institutions now recognizing and taking steps to reduce the pressure they place on students. Early Entrance to College Programs (EECP) is a small subset of academic institutions focused on providing an accelerated higher education path, and these students are held to high academic standards. It is important to research the effects of these programs on the students' mental health, as younger children are extremely susceptible to mental disorders that may last into adulthood.  Methods This study analyzed a three-part survey given to alumni of various EECPs. The survey is a combination of Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and yes/no questions regarding the participants' demographics. A longitudinal study was also conducted on current students in EECPs. These students were given a survey consisting of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaire, which was completed two times throughout the academic year, three months later. Results The results displayed that there was a significant impact of academic rigor on the mental health of these students. In both the one-time and longitudinal studies, a majority of participants recorded having higher levels of anxiety and depression than before they were in the program. Conclusions The association between mental health and academic rigor is similar to what is seen among both high school and college cohort students with a greater emphasis on the social environment as a modulating factor.