Black College Students’ Ethnic Identity and Academic Achievement: Examining Mental Health and Racial Discrimination as Moderators

2021 ◽  
pp. 009579842110342
Author(s):  
Eryn N. DeLaney ◽  
Chelsea D. Williams ◽  
Shawn C. T. Jones ◽  
Nicole A. Corley ◽  
Fantasy T. Lozada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Ethnic Identity ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Racial Discrimination ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Black College ◽  
Black College Students ◽  
And Gender

The purpose of the current study was to test the role that components of ethnic identity (i.e., exploration and resolution) play in academic achievement, and to examine mental health, racial discrimination, and gender as moderators of these associations among Black college students. Participants included 341 college students who identified as a Black/African American female or male ( M age = 18.4; SD = .34), and completed measures of ethnic identity, perceived racial discrimination, and mental health. Results indicated that higher levels of ethnic identity exploration were associated with a lower grade point average (GPA) among males with higher levels of depressive symptoms, but not among males with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Similarly, higher levels of ethnic identity resolution were associated with a lower GPA among males with higher levels of anxiety symptoms, but not males with lower levels of anxiety symptoms. Findings may have implications for clinical and educational interventions by highlighting the nuanced ways that ethnic identity, mental health, and gender affect Black college students’ academic achievement.

Racial Microaggressions and Depression in Black College Students: The Role of Ethnic Identity

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Laura Reid Marks ◽  
Madeline Stenersen ◽  
Kimberly Adams ◽  
Daniel Lattimore ◽  
Brittany C. Lee
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Ethnic Identity ◽  
Racial Microaggressions ◽  
Black College ◽  
Black College Students

scholarly journals Parental Educational Attainment and Mental Well-Being of College Students: Diminished Returns of Blacks

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Black Families ◽  
Black College ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Black College Students ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Parental Educational Attainment ◽  
Mental Well Being

Background. According to the Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDR) theory, the health returns of socioeconomic status (SES) are systemically smaller for Blacks compared to Whites. Less is known, however, about trans-generational aspects of such diminished gains. For example, the differential impact of parental educational attainment on differences in mental well-being between White versus Black college students remains unknown. Aims. With a national scope, this study explored racial differences in the effect of parental educational attainment on the mental well-being of college students in the United States. Methods. The Healthy Mind Study (HMS), 2016–2017, is a national telephone survey that included 41,898 college students. The sample was composed of Whites (n = 38,544; 92.0%) and Blacks (n = 3354; 8.0%). The independent variable was highest parental educational attainment. The dependent variable was mental well-being (mentally healthy days in the past month) which was measured using a single item. Age and gender were covariates. Race was the moderator. Logistic regression was used for data analysis. Results. In the pooled sample, high parental educational attainment was associated with better mental wellbeing, independent of race, age, and gender. Race, however, showed a significant interaction with parental educational attainment on students’ mental wellbeing, indicating a smaller effect of parent education on the mental wellbeing of Black compared to White college students. Conclusions. The returns of parental educational attainment in terms of mental well-being is smaller for Black college students compared to their White counterparts. To minimize the diminished returns of parental education in Black families, policies should go beyond equalizing SES and reduce the structural barriers that are common in the lives of Black families. Policies should also aim to reduce extra costs of upward social mobility, prevent discrimination, and enhance the quality of education for Blacks. As the mechanisms that are involved in MDR are multi-level, multi-level solutions are needed to minimize the racial gaps in gaining mental health benefits from higher socioeconomic levels.

scholarly journals Mental health condition of college students compared to non-students during COVID-19 lockdown: the CONFINS study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e053231
Author(s):  
Julie Arsandaux ◽  
Ilaria Montagni ◽  
Mélissa Macalli ◽  
Nathalie Texier ◽  
Mathilde Pouriel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Mental Health Condition ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts

ObjectivesTo estimate the effect of student status on mental health condition during COVID-19 general lockdown in France.DesignCross-sectional analysis comparing students and non-students recruited in the same study.SettingParticipants of the web-based CONFINS study implemented during the general lockdown in France in spring 2020.Participants2260 participants (78% women) including 1335 students (59%).Primary and secondary outcome measuresThrough an online questionnaire, participants declared if they have experienced suicidal thoughts, coded their perceived stress on a 10-points scale and completed validated mental health scales (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depressive symptoms, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 for anxiety symptoms) during the last 7 days. The effect of college student status on each mental health condition was estimated using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Stratified models for students and non-students were performed to identify population-specific factors.ResultsStudent status was associated with a higher frequency of depressive symptoms (adjusted OR (aOR)=1.58; 95% CI 1.17 to 2.14), anxiety symptoms (aOR=1.51; 95% CI 1.10 to 2.07), perceived stress (n=1919, aOR=1.70, 95% CI 1.26 to 2.29) and suicidal thoughts (n=1919, aOR=1.57, 95% CI 0.97 to 2.53). Lockdown conditions that could be potentially aggravating on mental health like isolation had a higher impact on students than on non-students.ConclusionsCollege students were at higher risk of mental health disturbances during lockdown than non-students, even after taking into account several potential confounding factors. A close follow-up and monitoring of students’ mental health status is warranted during lockdown periods in this vulnerable population.

scholarly journals Romantic involvement and mental health in sexual and gender minority emerging adults assigned female at birth

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 1340-1361
Author(s):  
Sarah W. Whitton ◽  
Lisa M. Godfrey ◽  
Shariell Crosby ◽  
Michael E. Newcomb
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Romantic Involvement ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
Relationship Involvement ◽  
And Gender

We examined whether romantic relationship involvement, a well-established protective factor against mental health problems among heterosexual adults, is also protective for sexual and gender minority emerging adults assigned female at birth (SGM-AFAB), a group at high risk for mental health issues. Using cross-sectional data from a community sample of 222 SGM-AFAB ages 18–20 years, we assessed associations between current relationship involvement and five mental health variables: depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, alcohol use problems, cannabis use problems, and illicit drug use. There were no differences by romantic involvement in problematic cannabis use or other illicit drug use. Overall, participants in a relationship reported fewer depressive symptoms, fewer anxiety symptoms, and less problematic alcohol use than participants who were single. Some associations differed, however, by participant gender identity, sexual orientation identity, and partner gender. Specifically, relationship involvement was associated with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms for cisgender female participants ( n = 154) but not for gender minority participants ( n = 68) and for lesbian participants ( n = 38) but not for bisexual/pansexual participants ( n = 134) or those with other sexual orientation identities ( n = 50). Participants romantically involved with a cisgender female partner ( n = 43) had fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms than single participants ( n = 100), those with a cisgender male partner ( n = 56), and those with a gender minority partner (n = 23). Together, these findings suggest that romantic involvement may promote mental health for many, but not all, SGM young adults, highlighting the importance of attending to differences among SGM subgroups in research and efforts to reduce mental health and substance use disparities.

scholarly journals Alcohol Use and Mental Health Conditions Among Black College Males: Do Those Attending Postsecondary Minority Institutions Fare Better Than Those at Primarily White Institutions?

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 962-968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam E. Barry ◽  
Zachary Jackson ◽  
Daphne C. Watkins ◽  
Janelle R. Goodwill ◽  
Haslyn E.R. Hunte
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Black College ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Black College Students ◽  
Mental Health Conditions ◽  
White Institutions ◽  
Minority Institutions

While there is a sizeable body of research examining the association between alcohol use and mental health conditions among college students, there are sparse investigations specifically focusing on these associations among Black college students. This is concerning given Black college students face different stressors compared with their non-Black peers. Black males appear especially at risk, exhibiting increased susceptibility to mental health issues and drinking in greater quantities and more frequently than Black females. This investigation examined the association between alcohol consumption and mental health conditions among Black men attending institutions of higher education in the United States and sought to determine differences between Black men attending predominantly White institutions (PWIs) compared with those attending postsecondary minority institutions. Final sample included 416 Black men, 323 of which attended a PWI. Data were from the National College Health Assessment. Black men attending a PWI reported significantly greater levels of alcohol consumption and significantly more mental health conditions. Attendance at a minority-serving institution was associated with fewer mental health conditions among Black men. Future studies should seek to replicate these findings and conduct culturally sensitive and gender-specific research examining why Black men at PWIs report greater alcohol consumption and more mental health conditions than their peers attending postsecondary minority institutions.

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