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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2023
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Douglas Barnett
Abstract
Transitioning to college is an exciting and challenging experience. Among first generation college students, tensions between home and school may lead to isolation from prior sources of support. The aim of the present study was to examine how generational status, place of residence, and perceptions of parenting behaviors combine and associate with college students’ mental health. It was hypothesized that generational status would have an indirect effect on college students’ mental health through perceived parenting. Secondly, it was hypothesized that perceived parenting would have a direct effect on college students’ mental health, and the strength of the relationship would depend on students’ place of residence. Participants included college students (N= 238; ages 18-29 years old) from a Midwest university. Measures included student generational status, perceptions of parenting (i.e., warmth and psychological control), residence, and mental health (i.e., pathology of separation-individuation, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems). Regressions were used to test the hypotheses. Results revealed that internalizing problems decreased as a function of paternal warmth (stronger for students living with family of origin than those living elsewhere) and increased as a function of maternal psychological control. Externalizing problems increased as a function of maternal and paternal psychological control. Pathology of separation-individuation increased as a function of maternal psychological control. Positive correlations between maternal control and both externalizing problems and pathology of separation-individuation, respectively, were more consequential for continuing-generation students than first-generation students. Future directions and implications for supporting families and emerging adults are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Marton, Velinka, "Examining Mental Health Among Diverse College Students: Considerations For Generational Status, Perceived Parenting, And Place Of Residence" (2023). Wayne State University Theses. 893.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_theses/893