Negative emotionality, stress, and depressive symptoms in the transition through of college

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prospective associations between negative emotionality, perceived stress, and depressive symptomology in a longitudinal sample of first-year college students (N = 209, similar to 62 % female, similar to 90 % white, Southeastern USA). Data assessment points were in the first and second years of college as well as similar to four years after baseline (retention rates >= 80 %). Results from our random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) showed robust evidence that negative emotionality, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms were strongly influenced by stable, trait-like influences over time. These latent factors were also moderately to strongly correlated. After accounting for these between-person effects, there was comparatively weak evidence of any within-person change in one variable leading to meaningful change in another. Even the within-person (residual) correlations increased with time, suggesting these constructs became increasingly interdependent. Results best support a co-development model of negative emotionality, perceived stress, and depressive symptom development concerning the population of emerging adults transitioning through college.

Automated summary

This study aimed to evaluate the long-term associations between negative emotionality, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms in first-year college students. The results showed that these variables were influenced by stable, trait-like patterns and were moderately to strongly correlated. After controlling for between-person effects, there was little evidence of within-person change in one variable leading to meaningful change in another. The results support a co-development model of negative emotionality, perceived stress, and depressive symptom development.