Date of Award
Fall 2023
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Chair
Dr. Lachel Story
Committee Chair School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Member 2
Dr. Debra Copeland
Committee Member 2 School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Member 3
Dr. LaWanda Baskin
Committee Member 3 School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Member 4
Dr. Traci Hayes
Committee Member 4 School
Health Professions
Abstract
Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are a growing concern on college campuses. However, college students typically underutilize mental health treatment (Ebert et al., 2019). First-generation African American college students are at an increased risk of developing mental health issues, but the research related to this population’s mental health is insufficient (Eakins & Eakins 2017; Gibbons et al., 2019 Williams et al., 2020). The transition to college is full of stressors that many first-generation students may feel unequipped to handle. However, there is limited research that focuses on how the transition to college affects first-generation African American college students’ mental health beliefs and coping strategies.
This qualitative descriptive study explored the role that the transition to college plays in shaping first-generation African American college students’ mental health beliefs and coping strategies. Nancy Schlossberg’s (1981) transition theory was used as a framework for the study. The study revealed several stressors that significantly impacted the participants’ mental health during the transition to college. In addition, the findings illuminated the role of interpersonal support systems in the maintenance of the students’ mental health and the development of coping strategies. A greater focus on the mental health of this student population is important to reduce attrition rates and increase academic success. The findings of this study would be beneficial to college administrators who wish to implement programs or policies to support first-generation African American college students during their transition to college.
Copyright
Kadija Polk, 2023
Recommended Citation
Polk, Kadija, "Transitioning to College: First-Generation African American College Students' Mental Health Beliefs and Coping Strategies" (2023). Dissertations. 2203.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/2203