The Influence of Financial Stress and First-generation College Status on Changes in Inflammation and Depressive Symptoms Across the Transition to College.

Objective: 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 samples to estimate concentrations (in log 2 mg/L) of 6 proinflammatory markers: interleukin (IL)-1 receptor agonist, IL-6, IL-8, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and TNF receptor type II. Participants also completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression 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 =.011; b= 8.39, p <.001) but not inflammation at the start of the academic year. Students with higher financial stress had a greater longitudinal increase in C-reactive protein ( b= 0.72, p =.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.