Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

PhD

College

College of Applied Human Sciences

Department

Not Listed

Committee Chair

Lisa F. Platt

Committee Member

Jeffrey Daniels

Committee Member

Margaret Glenn

Committee Member

Carla Brigandi

Abstract

Numerous research studies have investigated the mental health concerns and needs of college students. However, there is a need for additional research to understand the unique presenting mental health concerns of first-generation college students at university counseling centers in the US. The current study was a non-experimental exploratory research study that utilized secondary data analysis to examine and compare the sociodemographic profiles, mental health needs, and presenting problems of first-generation students compared to their non-first-generation peers at university counseling centers (UCCs) in the US. In Part One of the study, comparisons were drawn between first-generation and non-first-generation collegiate clients on key demographic and clinical outcomes. These results revealed that first-generation collegiate clients presented to UCCs with significantly higher mental health needs and higher suicidality risk as compared to non-first-generation collegiate clients. Furthermore, results showed that first-generation students who presented to UCCs were significantly more likely to hold oppressed identities as compared to non-first-generation collegiate clients. In Part Two of the study, a hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to investigate generational status as a predictor of general distress as well as emotional support and help from family as a moderating variable between generational status and general distress. Results of the regression analysis showed that generational status was found to not be a significant predictor of general distress. Additionally, while emotional support and help from family was found to be a significant independent predictor of general distress, it was not found to be a moderator between generational status and general distress. Future research will need to continue investigating first-generation mental health concerns and intersecting oppressed identities as well as the relationship between generational status, family support, and distress.

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