Question

The American Psychiatric Association reports that among college students during the past decade mental health diagnosis and treatment are up, while the stigma associated with them is down. For each of the following statements determine the type of parameter it is estimating. Note that you can use each alternative more than once and you don’t need to use them all.

a) one proportion
b) one mean
c) difference of two independent means
d) difference of two independent proportions
e) mean of matched pair differences

1. From 2007 to 2017 mental health diagnoses among college students increased from 22 percent to 36 percent.
2. More than one-third of college students reported a diagnosed condition in 2016–2017, according to a study published in Psychiatric Services in Advance.
3. Stigma was measured by asking participants if they agreed with the statement: “I would think less of a person who has received mental health treatment.” Stigma decreased from 11% in 2007 to 6% in 2017.
4. While major depression can develop at any age, the average age at onset is the mid-20s. 5. Different anxiety disorders tend to develop at different ages. Social phobia typically begins in childhood or early adolescence while panic disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood.

Answer 1

1. From 2007 to 2017 mental health diagnoses among college students increased from 22 percent to 36 percent:

For this we need to estimate d) difference of two independent proportions.

2. More than one-third of college students reported a diagnosed condition in 2016–2017, according to a study published in Psychiatric Services in Advance:

For this we need to estimate a) one proportion

3. Stigma was measured by asking participants if they agreed with the statement: “I would think less of a person who has received mental health treatment.” Stigma decreased from 11% in 2007 to 6% in 2017:

For this we need to estimate d) difference of two independent proportions.

4. While major depression can develop at any age, the average age at onset is the mid-20s:

For this we need to estimate b) one mean

5. Different anxiety disorders tend to develop at different ages. Social phobia typically begins in childhood or early adolescence while panic disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood:

For this we need to estimate e) mean of matched pair differences.