College Students’ Achievement Pressures and Well-Being : Preliminary Findings

Abstract

Mental health concerns among college students have been on the rise over the last decade. In a recent survey of over 90,000 U.S. college students, 41% of the students reported symptoms of depression and 36% reported symptoms of anxiety (Healthy Minds Study, 2023). While there are a myriad of variables underlying mental health (e.g., genetics, social support, stigma), it is likely that some factors may be particularly prevalent for college students. Specifically, many college students may be experiencing parental achievement pressures, burnout, changes in friendship dynamics, and decreasing sense of mattering, all of which could contribute to mental health concerns. Using an online survey methodology, this study will explore UWEC students’ experiences with these variables. We hypothesize that higher levels of perceived parental academic pressure will be linked with higher levels of burnout and lower levels of mattering. We also hypothesize that higher levels of friendship quality will be linked with higher levels of mattering. This study has the potential to increase our understanding of the various mechanisms that may be important for college students’ mental well-being.