College and the grieving student: A mixed-methods analysis

ABSTRACT

The current mixed-methods study examines how college students negotiate the grief process with the competing demands of college. Data were collected from 950 students at a regional comprehensive university and a research intensive institution. Quantitative findings revealed closeness to the deceased as a key positive predictor of mental health and academic difficulties and positive associations between changes in peer relationships and mental health difficulties. Qualitative findings showed that closeness to the deceased was associated with a greater sense of purpose in the college experience and findings suggested that institutions and their faculty encourage and exhibit more sensitivity about grief issues.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to offer their gratitude to Michael Wisneski, Andrew Johnson, and Erika Linzmeier for their invaluable assistance in developing survey materials and data analysis.

Notes

¹Codebooks are available from the first author.