Date of Award

Spring 2022

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Major

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Randolph Lee

Abstract

Today more than ever, college students in the United States feel increased stress, leaving them more vulnerable to mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. With the Coronavirus-19 pandemic running rampant throughout the world, mental health concerns have been at the forefront of our issues, especially in the already vulnerable college population. While counseling centers have been present in colleges since the 1900s, their roles have significantly changed especially in the context of COVID-19. Therefore, due to the novelty of the virus, there is little research on the effects of COVID-19 on college students’ mental health and what that means for college counseling centers. While there is some research on factors that impact a student’s decision to receive counseling services, such as social stigma and strength of social support, little is known about how these factors have changed or stayed the same since the pandemic began. The present study examines Trinity College students’ feelings of their own current mental health, factors that students cite as affecting their attendance of their college counseling center, and college counseling center directors from Trinity College and Connecticut College’s perceptions of their roles in the context of the pandemic. Those who have attended the counseling center had significantly higher mean anxiety and depression ratings than those who have not attended, suggesting that those who need help are successfully receiving it. Long waitlists for appointments was the main reason both groups gave for not attending the counseling center, and those who have not attended the counseling center overwhelmingly cited uncertainty on how to schedule appointments.

Comments

Senior thesis completed at Trinity College, Hartford CT for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

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