First-Generation College Students: A Look beyond Academics. An Examination of the Emotional and Mental Health of First-Generation College Students 公开

Abstract

Abstract

First-Generation College Students: A Look beyond Academics. An Examination of the
Emotional and Mental Health of First-Generation College Students
By Rachel Aba Orleans

Objectives: The aims of this study were to: assess whether first-generation undergraduate
college students are different from continuing-generation undergraduate college students
on socio-demographic characteristics; determine whether there is an association between
presence of mental disorders and students' generation status; determine whether there is
an association between mental health and students' generation status; determine whether
there is evidence of a positive causal relationship between generation status and mental
disorders; determine whether there is evidence of a positive causal relationship between
generation status and poor mental health; and investigate whether generation status is
associated with mental health help-seeking behavior of students.

Methods: This study involved a secondary data analysis of the 2009 Healthy Minds
Study, a web-based survey that collected mental health information about college
students at fifteen educational institutions in the United States. First-generation and
continuing-generation Bachelor's degree-seeking students were compared on socio-
demographic characteristics, measures of mental health, and help-seeking behavior.

Results: First-generation students differed from continuing-generation students on socio-
demographic characteristics. First-generation students were less likely to screen positive
for anxiety, depression, suicide ideation, and languishing than continuing-generation
students. First-generation students were more likely to attempt suicide than continuing-
generation students. First-generation students did not differ from continuing-generation
students on planning to commit suicide, flourishing, and help-seeking behavior.

Conclusion: First-generation students experience greater stressors and challenges, yet
their emotional and mental health are similar to or even better than that of continuing-
generation students, indicating that something about being a first-generation student
protects students from having poor emotional and mental health. We theorize that this
protective factor may be resiliency. Another possible explanation for why first-
generation students have a lower likelihood of adverse mental health outcomes may be
that first-generation students are less likely to recognize, acknowledge, or admit to having
emotional and mental health issues. The only measure of mental health in which first-
generation students were at risk for was suicide attempt. This is an interesting
phenomenon that warrants further study.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS


LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. ii

LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ iii

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1

REVIEW OF LITERATURE ................................................................................................... 5

METHODS, ANALYSIS AND RESULTS .................................................................................. 14

DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................. 33

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 43

About this Master's Thesis

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• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Behavioral Sciences and Health Education
Degree	MPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Psychology, General Health Sciences, Public Health Health Sciences, Mental Health
关键词	Continuing-generation college students Mental health Depression Flourishing Help-seeking Suicide Emotional health Languishing Anxiety First-generation college students
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Thompson, Nancy J, Emory University
Committee Members	Lang, Delia L, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	Does not apply (no collaborating organization)

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