Freshmen College Transition: A Longitudinal Study of Perceived Stress and Depression

This study explored perceived stress (PS) and depression dynamics during the college transition, examining whether changes in PS predict subsequent changes in depression. A total of 971 Chinese college freshmen (M_age = 19.29, SD = 1.14) completed four measurements at 4-week intervals, analysed via multivariate latent growth modeling (LGM). Results showed PS decreased in the first month after enrollment then gradually increased, while depression declined linearly over 3 months. Females showed higher initial PS than males. Initial PS positively predicted initial depression and negatively predicted depression decreases. Furthermore, a PS decrease during the first month positively predicted a subsequent decrease in depression. Conversely, a PS increase during the following 2 months negatively predicted the decrease in depression. Interpersonal connection negatively predicted initial PS and depression but positively predicted later PS increases. Subjective social status negatively predicted initial PS yet positively predicted initial depression and early PS decline. Moreover, group cohesion positively predicted initial PS yet positively predicted its early reduction. These findings highlight associations between changes in PS and freshmen's depression trajectories, pinpoint a critical window for early intervention, and underscore the significance of stress reduction to mitigating initial rises in depression.