title: Depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and grade point average among student servicemembers and veterans.
abstract: The current study examined relationships among self-reported depression severity, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity, and grade point average (GPA) among student servicemembers and veterans. We asked 422 student servicemembers and veterans (72% male, 86% Caucasian, mean age = 36.29 yr) to complete an anonymous online survey that assessed self-reported GPA, depression severity, PTSD severity, and frequency of academic problems (late assignments, low grades, failed exams, and skipped classes). Female respondents reported a slightly higher GPA than males (3.56 vs 3.41, respectively, p = 0.01). Depression symptoms (beta weight = -0.174, p = 0.03), male sex (beta weight = 0.160, p = 0.01), and younger age (beta weight = 0.155, p = 0.01) were associated with lower GPA but not PTSD symptoms (beta weight = -0.040, p = 0.62), although the interaction of depression and PTSD symptoms showed a nonsignificant inverse relationship with GPA (beta weight = -0.378, p = 0.08). More severe depression was associated with turning in assignments late (beta weight = 0.171, p = 0.03), failed exams (beta weight = 0.188, p = 0.02), and skipped classes (beta weight = 0.254, p = 0.01). The relationship of depression with self-reported GPA was mediated by frequency of failed examns. Results suggest that student servicemembers and veterans with greater emotional distress also report worse academic performance.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Veterans Studies, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT;
authors.forename: Craig J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.forename: AnnaBelle O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.forename: Kent
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hinkson
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bichrest
authors.forename: D Aaron
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ahern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: GPA; academics; college; depression; grade point average; military; posttraumatic stress disorder; student; university; veteran