Open AccessMental Health and Academic Success of First-Year College Students
Author(s) -
Tammy Jordan Wyatt,
Sara B. Oswalt,
Yesenia Ochoa
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of higher education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1927-6052
pISSN - 1927-6044
DOI - 10.5430/ijhe.v6n3p178
Subject(s) - mental health , psychology , college health , occupational safety and health , clinical psychology , association (psychology) , medical education , medicine , psychiatry , family medicine , pathology , psychotherapist
The prevalence and severity of mental health issues are increasing among college students, and such issues pose a threat to health and academic performance. Responses from 66,159 undergraduate students about mental health and academics from the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment II were examined using regression analyses. Differences in mental health diagnoses were found by classification with first-year students reporting higher rates of self-injury and seriously considering suicide. Upperclassmen reported higher rates of academic impact from mental health factors. Findings indicate one’s first-year of college as the prime time to promote awareness of and strategies to prevent mental health issues or negative academic effects; implications for first-year experience programs are discussed.