Examining the Predictors and Correlates of Well-Being among College Students

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine young adults’ psychological well being in a diverse sample of college students. Methods: Sixty-five students aged 18 to 22 were recruited from a mid-size public university in the northeast during the spring of 2023. Participants completed a 72-item online survey that assessed self-reported depression symptomatology, anxiety, self-harming behaviors, flourishing, and mental healthcare utilization. Differences across year-in-college, racial/ethnic background, and gender were assessed. Results: Symptoms of depression and anxiety were marginally higher among junior and senior students. White students reported slightly higher depression and anxiety symptoms. Rates of non-suicidal self-injury were negligible although students who self-identified as gender diverse (e.g., gender fluid) reported self-harming behavior three times the rate of male and female students. Juniors reported more flourishing attitudes and behaviors than any other demographic. Bivariate analyses revealed that anxiety was significantly correlated with age, year in college, and mental healthcare utilization. Multivariate linear regression analysis underscored the importance of examining the influence of racial/ethnic differences and healthcare utilization. Conclusions: As colleges and universities address the mental health epidemic, they should consider which students are most at risk, how prevalence rates vary by sociodemographic variables, and how policies and interventions should change to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student body. The results of this study have the potential to influence how administrators allocate university resources for monitoring and supporting student psychological health and wellbeing.