Mental Health in Academia: Examining the Prevalence of Psychological and Institutional Correlates of Mental Wellbeing in Emory University Undergraduate Students Open Access
Bohl, Carson (Spring 2023)
Abstract
The poor mental health of adolescents and young adults is increasingly recognized as a public health crisis. College students, in particular, are developmentally vulnerable to psychological distress and face distinct mental health challenges, including the process of adjustment and academic stressors. Recent work suggests that the prevalence of mental illness and other psychiatric outcomes may be increasing in college students, reflecting a substantial mental health burden on college campuses. These challenges arise in a developmental period that is critical for the formation of identity and self-regulatory capabilities, as well as healthy habits and behaviors that can improve psychological wellbeing and promote resilience. Thus, universities face a difficult challenge to effectively respond to students’ mental health needs while delivering a high-quality education. Given the importance of emerging adulthood and the context of academia, this investigation analyzes the prevalence of psychological and institutional factors related to students’ mental wellbeing in a sample of undergraduate students at Emory University. Respondents disclosed a number of conditions detrimental to mental health: depression (34%), anxiety (40%), burnout (87%), imposter syndrome (73%), self-harm (42%), and suicidal ideation (29%). A limited number of participants utilized the school’s counseling and psychological services (25%), and those who did rated its quality as poor (M=4.9, SE=0.46; maximum score: 10). Implications of these findings and areas in which the university may develop interventions are discussed.
Table of Contents
Preamble...1
Introduction ...3
What is emerging adulthood?...5
Emerging adulthood in college students...8
Evolutionary roots of psychopathology: a psychoneuroimmunology perspective...12
Cultural/societal revolution...15
Technology Revolution...15
Sexual Revolution...15
Women’s Movement...16
Youth Movement...17
Capitalism...18
Information Overload...20
Emerging adulthood in our modern society...24
Academia...26
Current research on mental health in college students...28
Common stressors...30
Why this study?...31
Methods...33
Study Location...33
Data Collection Procedures...33
Survey Measures...34
1. Influences on stress...35
2. Academic-related Stress...36
3. Psychopathology...36
4. Institutional Factors...37
Results...41
Univariate Statistics...42
1. Influences on Stress...42
2. Academic-Related Stress...43
3. Psychopathology...45
4. Institutional Factors...46
Bivariate Associations...47
Factors associated with Sleep and Loneliness...47
Academic Stress...48
Psychopathology...48
Socio-Demographic variables...48
Discussion...49
Mental Health...49
Academic Stress...51
Social Connection...52
Financial Stress...53
Institutional Factors...54
Interventions...55
Limitations...60
Conclusions and Future Directions...62
Works Cited...64
Appendix A: Tables of Results...83
Appendix B: Survey Instrument...104
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