The Influence of Financial Stress and First-generation College Status on Changes in Inflammation and Depressive Symptoms Across the Transition to College
Biopsychosoc Sci Med. 2025 May 8. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000001401. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Socioeconomic adversity can hinder successful adjustment to college and may contribute to disparities in health. The present study evaluated whether first-generation college student status and financial stress over college expenses predicted changes in inflammation markers and depressive symptoms across the first year of college.
METHODS: At the beginning and end of the academic year, a sample of N=198 first-year college students (Mage=18.1 y) provided dried blood spot (DBS) samples to estimate concentrations (in log2 mg/L) of six pro-inflammatory markers: interleukin (IL)-1 receptor agonist, IL-6, IL-8, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and TNF receptor type II. Participants also completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale to measure depressive symptoms at both timepoints. Regression models evaluated associations of financial stress and first-generation college status with baseline and longitudinal change in inflammation and depressive symptoms.
RESULTS: We observed that students with greater financial stress and those who were first-generation college students had greater depressive symptoms (b=8.07, P=0.011; b=8.39, P<0.001) but not inflammation at the start of the academic year. Students with higher financial stress had a greater longitudinal increase in CRP (b=0 .72, P=0.001) across the academic year, but showed no changes in IL-6, IL-8, IL-1RA, TNF-α, or TNF-RII.
CONCLUSIONS: First-generation status and college financial stress are related to health challenges during the transition to college. Study findings warrant replication across diverse education environments and point to financial support as a potential target for facilitating healthy adjustment to college.
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