Divya P Shenoy1, Christine Lee2, Sang Leng Trieu2. 1. a School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine , Irvine , California. 2. b Student Health Center , Ohlone College , Fremont , California.
Abstract
UNLABELLED: Single-parenting students face unique challenges that may adversely affect their mental health, which have not been explored in community college settings. OBJECTIVE: The authors conducted secondary analysis of Spring 2013 data from the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment to examine difficulties facing single-parent community college students and the association between single parenting and negative mental health (depression, self-injury, suicide attempt). PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 6,832 California community college students, of whom 309 were single parents. METHODS: Demographic and mental health data were characterized using univariate descriptive analyses. Bivariate analyses determined whether single parents differed from other students regarding negative mental health or traumatic/difficult events. RESULTS: Finances, family, and relationship difficulties disproportionally affected single parents, who reported nearly twice as many suicide attempts as their counterparts (5.3% vs. 2.7%; p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Single-parenting students face a higher prevalence of mental health stressors than other community college students.
UNLABELLED: Single-parenting students face unique challenges that may adversely affect their mental health, which have not been explored in community college settings. OBJECTIVE: The authors conducted secondary analysis of Spring 2013 data from the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment to examine difficulties facing single-parent community college students and the association between single parenting and negative mental health (depression, self-injury, suicide attempt). PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 6,832 California community college students, of whom 309 were single parents. METHODS: Demographic and mental health data were characterized using univariate descriptive analyses. Bivariate analyses determined whether single parents differed from other students regarding negative mental health or traumatic/difficult events. RESULTS: Finances, family, and relationship difficulties disproportionally affected single parents, who reported nearly twice as many suicide attempts as their counterparts (5.3% vs. 2.7%; p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Single-parenting students face a higher prevalence of mental health stressors than other community college students.
Entities:
Keywords:
Community college; depression; mental health; single parent; suicidality