College Students and their Families: A Look into Mental Health, Diagnoses, Use of Substances, and Relationships

Abstract

College students often have a wide range of responsibilities to manage at any given point in time. Chronic feelings of psychological strain and pressure can lead to a variety of unhealthy coping mechanisms and issues with mental health. This study recruited 799 participants to provide information on their mental health, use of substances, and family relationships. The findings from the research show that the majority of students are experiencing ongoing stress and anxiety. Students also generally expressed that their family relationships play an important role in their mental functioning. Of the respondents that have been formally diagnosed with mental disorders, the two most common were depression (36%) and anxiety (33%). These were also the two most common diagnoses among their family members. Women were more likely than men to report having ongoing stress, anxiety, and depression. Group differences (e.g., social class, ethnicity/race, gender) were found across multiple variables, such as with respondents from different social class backgrounds being more likely to struggle with mental health problems and to use substances as a coping mechanism. The findings from this research highlight the importance of paying attention to the mental health and functioning of college students and their families. These matters also have a direct impact on academic performance, burnout, and institutional attrition rates. The presented findings may be of use to applied areas concerning student psychological services and mental health counseling.