Prioritizing the Psychological Well-Being of College Students
The emergence of mental disorders mostly develops during the middle-to-late adolescent periods of a person’s life. More specifically, the onset of many disorders can develop during the four years in one’s college career. A survey conducted by the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors from 2011 to 2012 found that anxiety was the predominant concern among college students at around 41.6%, and depression was the second most common at 36.4%. The survey also found that 95% of college counseling directors held growing concern over the increasing number of students experiencing psychological problems on campus.
Mental disorders are conditions that alter and impact the way one feels, thinks, and behaves. Mental disorders and emotional well-being involve the ability to regulate emotions, specifically the ability to recognize happiness, satisfaction, and quality of life. These disorders heavily affect one’s mood and can lead to problems among one’s social, physical, and professional capacities. Individuals with mental disorders, most commonly those with depression and anxiety, often convey negative emotions such as irritability and pessimism.
Depression is a serious mood disorder that is characterized by feelings of melancholy, frustration, and hopelessness; this can, in turn, influence the way an individual feels and thinks. Anxiety is a natural response to stress. Characterized by feelings of fear, nervousness, or apprehension about the future persisting for more than six months, anxiety disorders can arise once anxious thoughts begin to interfere with one’s ability to perform everyday tasks. The first two years of a student’s college career can be especially tough, as students frequently struggle to adapt to the college lifestyle away from home and without the close support of their parents. Thus, the onset of mental disorders can be most prevalent during these years.
Mental disorders are conditions that alter and impact the way one feels, thinks, and behaves. Mental disorders and emotional well-being involve the ability to regulate emotions, specifically the ability to recognize happiness, satisfaction, and quality of life. These disorders heavily affect one’s mood and can lead to problems among one’s social, physical, and professional capacities. Individuals with mental disorders, most commonly those with depression and anxiety, often convey negative emotions such as irritability and pessimism.
Depression is a serious mood disorder that is characterized by feelings of melancholy, frustration, and hopelessness; this can, in turn, influence the way an individual feels and thinks. Anxiety is a natural response to stress. Characterized by feelings of fear, nervousness, or apprehension about the future persisting for more than six months, anxiety disorders can arise once anxious thoughts begin to interfere with one’s ability to perform everyday tasks. The first two years of a student’s college career can be especially tough, as students frequently struggle to adapt to the college lifestyle away from home and without the close support of their parents. Thus, the onset of mental disorders can be most prevalent during these years.
The psychological well-being of adolescents, especially college students, heavily impacts their academic careers, social lives, and development into adulthood.
Image Source: Andrea Piacquadio
Drs. Liu and Ping of Peking University and Dr. Gao of Guangzhou Administration School aimed to establish a relationship between the emergence of mental disorders and college students. They analyzed the depression, anxiety, and stress levels of full-time undergraduate students in 15 Chinese universities using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). Data was taken from the Beijing College Student Panel Survey (BCSPS). They found that on average, students’ severity scores of depression and stress during the four years remained in the normal, expected threshold. However, all reported anxiety scores exceeded the normal threshold of 7, with freshmen averaging the highest scores, followed by sophomores, juniors, and seniors, respectively. Drs. Lui, Ping, and Gao concluded that the anxiety levels among Chinese college students were above normal, but that depression and stress scores were normal. Secondly, they reported that roughly 38% to 43% of students scored above the normal level of anxiety, 35% scored above the normal level of depression, and 20% to 30% scored above the normal level of stress. Lastly, they concluded that the mental well-being of students differed significantly by grade level. The highest reported depression, stress, and anxiety scores surfaced among first and second years.
From this research, it is evident that the first and second year Chinese college students were at a less stable psychological state compared to third and fourth years. These trends can be attributed to separation from parents and family and adjusting to new environments. The growing concern regarding the mental health of college students can be relieved by prioritizing the psychological well-being of students through the implementation of mental health policies that focus on the treatment and prevention of mental disorders. Academics and grades should not be the sole focus of college; rather, the well-being of students should be the most important aspect of their college experience.
From this research, it is evident that the first and second year Chinese college students were at a less stable psychological state compared to third and fourth years. These trends can be attributed to separation from parents and family and adjusting to new environments. The growing concern regarding the mental health of college students can be relieved by prioritizing the psychological well-being of students through the implementation of mental health policies that focus on the treatment and prevention of mental disorders. Academics and grades should not be the sole focus of college; rather, the well-being of students should be the most important aspect of their college experience.
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