The Pathological Freshman Year: Assessing Correlations between Cortisol and Symptoms of Depression in Idaho Resident Freshmen

College freshmen experience unique stressors when transitioning from high school to college. In Idaho, the freshman attrition rate is higher than the national average, which may be partially explained by the higher prevalence of depression in this region. The current study investigated the potential of cortisol, a stress hormone, to be a biomarker for depression to help identify those freshmen with depression that may be at a higher risk of dropping out. In a group of 45 college freshmen, no correlations were observed between serum cortisol and depression severity as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). However, those with a self-reported history of depression scored significantly higher on the PHQ-9, confirming the reliability and validity of the PHQ-9 in a college student population.