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Psychological Well-Being and the Role of Social Support: A Qualitative Exploration of Black Women and Latina College Student Experiences
by Alexis McDonald
Faculty Advisor: Mary A. Steinhardt, PhD, Graduate Student Advisor: Jaylen Wright, MS
Objective: The transition to and through college can be a difficult and challenging experience for college-aged young adults. Historically marginalized women, specifically Black and Latina, are considered to be at an increased risk of experiencing psychological distress and unique barriers throughout their college-years. This qualitative study explored the narratives of Black women and Latina college students, and how their utilization of social support resources influenced their mental health and well-being. Participants. Participants (N=14) were undergraduate students currently enrolled in a college or university, age 18-25 years, and selfidentified as female and Black/African American (10) or Latina (4). Methods. A qualitative descriptive thematic analysis was performed on participants’ responses to a free-response questionnaire that they completed online. Results. Key themes that emerged as barriers to psychological well-being were developed into four major categories: discontinuity barriers, resource barriers, social support barriers, and overall barriers to positive mental health outcomes. Key themes that emerged as the types of support to aid psychological well-being were developed into six major sources: programs, peers, faculty/staff, institutional level, academic, and psychological. Conclusion. Across all key themes, this study found that our Black women and Latina student’s sense of belonging and ethnic or identity similarity to their academic and social environments play key roles in their experiences of positive psychological well-being. Given the vulnerability of historically marginalized students, future research should continue to explore the relationship between social support resources and positive health outcomes, and develop necessary interventions to help young Black women and Latinas thrive in the face of adverse circumstances.