A systematic review of first-generation college students’ mental health

Abstract

Objective: To synthesize peer-reviewed research on first-generation college students’ mental health. Methods: Systematic searches were conducted in 4 databases through 2022 to identify empirical, peer-reviewed, and published articles on first-generation college student anxiety, depression, stress and mental health. Results: Across 62 papers, first-generation college students appeared to experience heightened anxiety, depression and stress when academic activities and social relationships conflicted rather than aligned with interdependent norms. Importantly however, when these negative mental health outcomes were measured generally – without reference to a specific domain (i.e., academic or social) – nearly all papers found no significant differences between first- and continuing-generation students. Conclusions: The findings further emphasized the need for understanding mental health within specific contexts.

Keywords:

• First-generation college students
• mental health
• anxiety
• depression
• stress

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. Because this systematic review paper did not involve any human subjects, and was simply an analysis of published research, the authors did not go through the Institutional Review Board process.