Journal of College & University Student Housing Volume 50, No. 2 - 31

Design and Depression
CONCLUSION
Living in the new living-learning neighborhood was associated with lower levels of depressive
symptoms in first-year students, supporting the role of the built environment
in enhancing college student mental health. This emphasizes the importance of designing
student housing with mental health in mind. Both female and male first-year
students experienced changes in depression levels based on living conditions. Understanding
gender-related preferences in housing design can create a more comfortable
environment for all students and enhance their sense of belonging. One recommendation
for practitioners is to design student housing facilities with mental health in
mind, as the built environment can play a significant role in college students' mental
health, especially during times of high need for counseling and clinical resources.
These findings provide valuable insights for college and university administrators and
decision-makers in housing planning, emphasizing the need to prioritize private residential
spaces and address gender-related preferences. By creating more supportive
living environments, higher education institutions can contribute to students' mental
health and overall well-being. 
REFERENCES
Adams, G. R., Ryan, B. A., & Keating, L.
(2000). Family relationships, academic
environments, and psychosocial development
during the university experience: A
longitudinal investigation. Journal of
Adolescent Research, 15(1), 99-122. https://doi.
org/10.1177/0743558400151006
Amole, D. (2012). Gender differences in user
responses to students housing. Procedia:
Social and Behavioral Sciences, 38, 89-99.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.03.328
Astin, A. W. (1977). Four critical years. Effects
of college on beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge.
Jossey-Bass.
Beemer, C. J., Stearns-Yoder, K. A., Schuldt, S. J.,
Kinney, K. A., Lowry, C. A., Postolache, T. T.,
Brenner, L. A., & Hoisington, A. J. (2021). A
brief review on the mental health for select
elements of the built environment. Indoor and
Built Environment, 30(2), 152-165. https://doi.
org/10.1177/1420326X19889653
Brandon, A., Hirt, J. B., & Cameron, T. (2008).
Where you live influences who you know:
Differences in student interaction based on
residence hall design. The Journal of College
and University Student Housing, 35(2), 62-79.
Bronkema, R., & Bowman, N. A. (2017).
A residential paradox? Residence hall
attributes and college student outcomes.
Journal of College Student Development,
58(4), 624-630. https://doi.org/10.1353/
csd.2017.0047
Brown, J., Volk, F., & Spratto, E. M. (2019). The
hidden structure: The influence of residence
hall design on academic outcomes. Journal
of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 56(3),
267-283. https://doi.org/10.1080/19496591.
2019.1611590
Canto, A. I., Swanbrow Becker, M., Cox, B. E.,
Hayden, S., & Osborn, D. (2017). College
students in crisis: Prevention, identification,
and response options for campus housing
professionals. The Journal of College and
University Student Housing, 43(2), 44-57.
28 The Journal of College and University Student Housing

https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558400151006 https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558400151006 https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2017.0047 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.03.328 https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2017.0047 https://doi.org/10.1080/19496591.2019.1611590 https://doi.org/10.1080/19496591.2019.1611590 https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X19889653 https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X19889653

Journal of College & University Student Housing Volume 50, No. 2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Journal of College & University Student Housing Volume 50, No. 2