Do you feel that the more responsibilities you have, the more stress you have? Although we know that you the older you get, the more life decisions you have to make, some college students experience more stress than others.
Minorities experience more stress in college and have a hard time adjusting to campus life. Specifically, minorities experience acculturative stress, which is an emotional impact of adaptation to a new culture. Research from Houston University shows that minorities are more at-risk for anxiety and depression compared to other college students. The stress endured by minorities relates to discrimination and poor physical health.
Although getting stressed in college is common, each experience is different for every individual. Some may choose to remain influenced by their decision to ignore their feelings or simply embrace it. Studies show that people who experience emotional stress may also have negative mood states like appetite loss, social anxiety and many other depressive and anxious symptoms. It can be harder for minorities to adjust to an environment land dealing with that on top of their identity and making new life decisions can cause stress, this leads to higher risk for mental health problems.
The research study recruited college students from 18-56 years old and from a range of ethnic backgrounds, including Hispanic, African American, Native American, etc. In the study, they reported their experiences with anxiety depression, financial stress, and uncertainty.
Results show that intervention programs can help with anxiety and depression. Through different types of therapy, minorities will be able to target avoiding their feelings and learn how to deal with their stress properly through their experience on life. Navigating through the struggles and college and learning how to engage in the process of better mental health can be beneficial for those experiencing these stressors.
Written by Aisha Harden