Distress among undergraduates: Marginality, stressors and resilience resources

Paula S. Nurius, Yasaman S. Sefidgar, Kevin S. Kuehn, Jake Jung, Han Zhang, Olivia Figueira, Eve A. Riskin, Anind K. Dey, Jennifer C. Mankoff

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: This study addresses mental health concerns among university students, examining cumulative stress exposure as well as resilience resources. Participants: Participants were 253 first- and second-year undergraduate students (age = 18.76; 49.80% male, 69% students of color) enrolled at a large western US university. Methods: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional online survey examining marginalized statuses and multiple stressors alongside coping responses, adaptive self-concept, and social support as predictors of stress, anxiety, and depression. Results: Multivariate regressions demonstrated significant associations between stress exposures and lower levels of resilience resources with each mental health indicator (with substantial R 2 of.49-.60). Although stressor exposures accounted for significant increases in mental health concerns, their exploratory power was attenuated by resilience resources (e.g., beta decreases from.25 to.16). Conclusions: Better understanding cumulative adversity/resilience resource profiles, particularly among marginalized students, can help universities in prioritizing institutional support responses toward prevention and mitigating psychological distress.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1445-1453
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of American College Health
Volume71
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

Keywords

  • Coping
  • mental health
  • resilience
  • stress
  • undergraduate

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