Mental Health and Well-Being

2017 ◽  
pp. 21-37
Author(s):  
Jean Mockry ◽  
Melissa Martin ◽  
Alison Puliatte ◽  
Denise A. Simard ◽  
Maureen E. Squires
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Teacher Education ◽  
Social Construction ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Profound Impact ◽  
American Life ◽  
Medical Issues ◽  
Health And Well Being

In this chapter, the authors provide a brief overview of the distinction between flourishing and non-flourishing mental health and well-being for people not diagnosed with a clinical mental disorder. While recognizing that genetics and personality impact the well-being of people, research supports the profound impact of societal constructs in American life. As part of a team of faculty who work with undergraduate students in Teacher Education, the authors feel this distinction is essential to understand as medical issues require diagnostics by people trained in that area. The book's focus is to examine what the college community can do to promote flourishing mental health in its social construction in classrooms, on campus and beyond. Dominant influences for non-flourishing mental health and well-being for college students rest in ideologies, happiness seeking and digitalization within American life, membership in groups that are underrepresented and well-intentioned but enabling parenting that ill prepares children for adult responses in life.

Mental Health and Well-Being

2021 ◽  
pp. 20-31
Author(s):  
Jean Mockry ◽  
Melissa Martin ◽  
Alison Puliatte ◽  
Denise A. Simard ◽  
Maureen E. Squires
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Teacher Education ◽  
Social Construction ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Profound Impact ◽  
American Life ◽  
Medical Issues ◽  
Health And Well Being

In this chapter, the authors provide a brief overview of the distinction between flourishing and non-flourishing mental health and well-being for people not diagnosed with a clinical mental disorder. While recognizing that genetics and personality impact the well-being of people, research supports the profound impact of societal constructs in American life. As part of a team of faculty who work with undergraduate students in Teacher Education, the authors feel this distinction is essential to understand as medical issues require diagnostics by people trained in that area. The book's focus is to examine what the college community can do to promote flourishing mental health in its social construction in classrooms, on campus and beyond. Dominant influences for non-flourishing mental health and well-being for college students rest in ideologies, happiness seeking and digitalization within American life, membership in groups that are underrepresented and well-intentioned but enabling parenting that ill prepares children for adult responses in life.

scholarly journals Assessing the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nontraditional Students’ Mental Health and Well-Being

2021 ◽  
pp. 074171362110275
Author(s):  
Stephanie J. Babb ◽  
Katrina A. Rufino ◽  
Ruth M. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Nontraditional Students ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Nontraditional Student ◽  
Life Stressors ◽  
Health And Well Being

The current study sought to measure how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health and well-being of college students, particularly nontraditional students. Participants ( n = 321) completed a series of surveys assessing their level of depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, insomnia, and well-being. Participants also indicated their nontraditional student characteristics, level of resilience, and additional life stressors due to the pandemic. Statistical analyses found that participants reported higher levels of depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and insomnia, with corresponding lower levels of well-being across all students, compared with prepandemic levels. Results showed that while nontraditional students indicated an increased number of life stressors during the pandemic compared with their traditional peers, nontraditional students also demonstrated higher levels of resilience. Nontraditional students appear to be more successful at managing stressful life events due to the increased resilience that comes with age and experience, which can better prepare them to persevere and overcome challenges.

Loneliness, college belongingness, subjective vitality, and psychological adjustment during coronavirus pandemic: Development of the College Belongingness Questionnaire

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-31
Author(s):  
Gökmen Arslan
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Psychological Adjustment ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Subjective Vitality ◽  
Healthy Development ◽  
Adverse Experiences ◽  
Health And Well Being

Loneliness is a serious risk factor for healthy development and flourishing. Although loneliness has been revealed to play an important role in psychological health and well-being, little is known about moderating and mitigating mechanisms underlying this association, especially during adverse experiences (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic). The current study purposed to explore whether subjective vitality mediated the association of loneliness with psychological adjustment and whether college belongingness moderated the mediating effect of subjective vitality on students’ adjustment in the context of loneliness. The study sample comprised 333 undergraduate students (69% female) from a public university in Turkey. They ranged in age between 19 and 41 years (M= 21.94, SD= 4.15). Findings from mediation analysis revealed that loneliness had a significant predictive effect on subjective vitality and psychological adjustment challenges. Subjective vitality also mediated the effect of loneliness on the psychological adjustment of college students. Further, college belongingness moderated the mediating effect of subjective vitality on adjustment and had a protective effect on the association between loneliness and subjective vitality in college students. These results indicate that subjective vitality and college belongingness are important mechanisms that may help develop prevention and intervention strategies to foster students’ psychological health and well-being in university settings.

Supporting Students' Mental Health and Academic Success Through Mobile App and IoT

2019 ◽  
pp. 703-719
Author(s):  
Karolina Baras ◽  
Luísa Soares ◽  
Carla Vale Lucas ◽  
Filipa Oliveira ◽  
Norberto Pinto Paulo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
Young People ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Management Guidelines ◽  
Health And Well Being

Smartphones have become devices of choice for running studies on health and well-being, especially among young people. When entering college, students often face many challenges, such as adaptation to new situations, establish new interpersonal relationships, heavier workload and shorter deadlines, teamwork assignments and others. In this paper, the results of four studies examining students' well-being and mental health as well as student's perception of challenges and obstacles they face during their academic journey are presented. In addition, a mobile application that acts as a complement to a successful tutoring project implemented at the authors' University is proposed. The application allows students to keep their schedules and deadlines in one place while incorporating virtual tutor features. By using both, the events from the student's calendar and his or her mood indicators, the application sends notifications accordingly. These notifications encompass motivational phrases, time management guidelines, as well as relaxation tips.

A feasibility study on a novel well-being intervention for university students

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
E. Hunt ◽  
L. Coombes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Time Use ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Universal Time ◽  
First Year ◽  
Evaluation Questionnaire ◽  
Self Compassion

Abstract Objectives: Challenging transitions, increased stress and mental ill health can affect students’ academic performance and their capacity to remain in higher education. Prevention and early treatment of mental health problems in college students is therefore a key public health priority, nationally and internationally. Developing a range of evidence-based interventions targeting the mental health of students is critical. We examined the feasibility and acceptability of a new universal time use and well-being intervention, the ‘Everyday Matters: Healthy Habits for University Life’ digital badge (EMDB), a co-curricular micro-credential for first-year college students. Methods: This study used a single-arm, pre–post design for first-year undergraduate students. The EMDB comprised eight 1-hour lunchtime sessions on brain development and time-use habits across the 24 hours of the day including sleep, self-care, leisure, study and work. Validated measures of occupational competence and value, mental well-being, sleep health, mindset, self-compassion and gratitude were completed, along with an evaluation questionnaire. Results: Eight first-year undergraduate students completed the demographic questionnaire and pre- and post- measures, with one additional student completing only the evaluation questionnaire. There was significantly improved levels of well-being, self-compassion and growth mindset following the intervention. Many of the challenges reported by participants related to occupational issues such as managing finances and having a satisfying routine. Participants appreciated the practical relevance and scientific underpinnings of the programme content. The sense of belonging within the group and having insightful conversations with other group members were particularly valued by participants. Conclusions: This study offers preliminary evidence that an occupational therapy based universal time-use and well-being intervention was feasible to deliver and acceptable to first-year undergraduate students. The results of this study and the participant acceptability support further development and evaluation of the EMDB intervention.

scholarly journals Measuring mental health and well-being of South African undergraduate students

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irma Eloff ◽  
Marien Graham
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Student Mental Health ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Psychological Flourishing ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Background Increased investment in optimal student mental health and well-being has been noted by universities around the world. Studies show the need for contextually relevant, granular understandings of specific aspects of student mental health and well-being. Methods A survey was conducted at two time points – at the beginning and end of the academic year – at a large, urban university in South Africa. The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, the Flourishing Scale, and the Fragility of Happiness Scale were used in the testing of undergraduate students from a variety of scientific disciplines. Two separate comparisons were made, based on the baseline data (n = 551) and the follow-up data (n = 281). In Comparison 1 (baseline, n = 443; follow-up, n = 173), two independent, biographically (very) similar groups were compared. Comparison 2 (n = 108) compared the results from the baseline and follow-up of the same group of students who completed the instruments at both time points. Results Results indicate a significant decline in mental health and well-being for both groups (independent and dependent) over the course of the academic year. Both follow-up groups were found to have lower psychological, emotional and social well-being, psychological flourishing, and reduced mental health, in comparison with the baseline groups. Conclusions The statistically significant decreases in the mental health and well-being of participants in this study indicate the need for substantive interventions to support student mental health and well-being. Strong foci for well-being interventions should include self-efficacy, sense of direction, meaning and creating a sense of belonging.

scholarly journals Coronavirus Stress and Resilience: Exploring the Role of Hope and Meaning in in Life Undergraduate Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 129-138
Author(s):  
Abdullah MERT ◽  
Gökmen ARSLAN ◽  
Özlem TAGAY
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Public University ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
High Motivation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Health And Well Being

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether meaning in life and hope mediate the association between coronavirus stress and resilience in university students. The participants were 376 (68% female) undergraduate students attending a public university in Turkey. The age of the students ranged from 18 to 38 years (Mage = 20.67, SD = 3.62). The results of the present study suggest that the meaning of life and hope attenuate the negative effects of stress on hope and resilience. Specifically, hope emerged as an important mechanism for the relationship between meaning in life and resilience. These findings provide insights into the relationships between coronavirus stress, hope, sense of life, and resilience in young adults during the period COVID -19. Hope and sense of life may function as protective factors to promote mental health and well-being by increasing an individual's ability to recover from stressful situations with high motivation and in creative ways. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether meaning in life and hope mediate the relationship between coronavirus stress and resilience in university students. The participants were 376 (68% female) students attending a public university in Turkey. The age of the students ranged from 18 to 38 years (Mage = 20.67, SD = 3.62). The results of the study showed that the meaning of life and hope mitigated the negative effects of stress on hope and resilience. Specifically, hope was found to be an important mechanism for the relationship between meaning in life and resilience. These findings shed light on the relationships between coronavirus stress, hope, sense of life, and resilience in young adults during COVID -19. Hope and sense of life may act as protective factors to promote mental health and well-being by increasing individuals' ability to recover from stressful situations with high motivation and in creative ways.

What Is Next?

2017 ◽  
pp. 105-110
Author(s):  
Melissa Martin ◽  
Jean Mockry ◽  
Alison Puliatte ◽  
Denise A. Simard ◽  
Maureen E. Squires
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
Special Educators ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
College Classrooms ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Health And Well Being

Because the possible problems related to mental health and well-being have been identified throughout the chapters of this book, the authors plan to implement and evaluate these strategies to help provide future directions and frameworks. This chapter describes a future research study and other explorations the authors wish to conduct. Specifically, the authors seek to measure preservice general and special educators' character dispositions (e.g., grit), and use these data to determine how to effectively help college students handle stress. Additionally, researchers hope to examine the use of technology in college classrooms to promote mindfulness. Finally, the implementation of strategies for the college classroom will be implemented and evaluated in teacher preparation coursework.

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