The impact of the 2012 student fees increase on the mental health of British graduates: a cohort study

Abstract

Purpose: financial difficulties are associated with poor student mental health, though the 2012 tuition fee for English students increase had little impact on student mental health in the first two years at university. This study examined the mental health of British graduates before and after this fee increase to determine the impact on student mental health.

Methodology: we conducted an online cohort study with 327 British students who started university before and after the 2012 fee increase. Participants completed measures of current economic hardship and symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, general mental health, and suicidality. Multiple regression was used to examine the impact of: (a) cohort (pre and post 2012 fee increase), (b) tuition fee amount and, (c) economic hardship on mental health.

Findings: greater economic hardship was positively correlated with all mental health variables. Starting university after the fees increased and/or paying greater fees was associated with increased depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidality, with little impact on general mental health. When economic hardship was covaried, the strength of cohort effects reduced but remained significant.

Originality: this is the first study to show that the 2012 tuition fee increase for British students increased depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidality in graduates many years after graduation, due to additional financial strain.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Thomas Richardson: orcid.org/0000-0002-5357-4281

ORCID for Monica Sood: orcid.org/0000-0003-3242-7925

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