Addressing Mental Health and Well-Being in Higher Education: Collaborative Insights from Education, Psychology, and the Learning Sciences

A special issue of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 4216

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Queens College and The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, Queens, New York, NY, USA
Interests: artificial intelligence in higher education; developmental psychology; international students; relationship among affect, cognition, and behavior; social psychology; student affairs

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Guest Editor
School of Education, Queens College of The City University of New York, Queens, New York, NY, USA
Interests: belongingness in higher education; integration of computing and digital tools into higher education; technology-assisted community of learners

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues:

The topic of mental health and overall well-being in higher education has been brought to the spotlight following the COVID-19 pandemic. While the adverse psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has clearly been undeniable for university students and faculty alike, the reality, however, is that concerns surrounding mental health and other aspects of well-being in university settings—such as youth anxiety and depression—were on the upswing well before the COVID-19 pandemic. Conversations on these topics, in addition, have been somewhat segmented, typically taking place within specific disciplines, such as public health, education, and psychology, with little interdisciplinary focus.  This Special Issue has been designed to provide an interdisciplinary platform where scholars from across the globe can productively and holistically exchange ideas on mental health and well-being among the members of higher education, including students, faculty, and staff.

We welcome submissions of empirical research, reviews, and perspective papers. Here are some examples of the topical foci:

  • Insights from Educational Psychology in understanding and promoting student mental health and well-being;
  • Mental health and well-being among international students;
  • Predictors of mental health among university students;
  • Mental health consequences of social justice movements, such as Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate;
  • Relationship between well-being and educational outcomes;
  • Pandemic-related learning loss and its impact on student and faculty well-being;
  • Mental health literacy among university faculty;
  • Impact of online teaching and learning on well-being;
  • Consequences of de-transitioning from online teaching and learning to in-person campus life post pandemic;
  • Infiltration of artificial intelligence and its influence on student and faculty well-being;
  • Roles of computing and digital resources in health promotion.

Please email the Guest Editor if authors would like to confirm the fit prior to submission. We hope to provide supportive reviews of submissions by junior scholars, seasoned authors, as well as mid-career academics.

Prof. Dr. Daisuke Akiba
Dr. Michelle C. Fraboni
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Education Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • belongingness
  • emotional health
  • higher education
  • mental health
  • student and faculty affairs
  • well-being

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 238 KiB  
Article
Building Resilience during Compassion Fatigue: Autoethnographic Accounts of College Students and Faculty
by Riley N. Nelson, Amanda Johnson Bertucci, Sara Swenson, Angel Seguine and Meenal Rana
Educ. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 1118; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14101118 - 15 Oct 2024
Viewed by 2068
Abstract
Compassion fatigue (CF) is a well-researched topic in the fields of mental health and nursing. However, studies on CF in the fields of primary, secondary, and higher education are very recent and scant. Compassion fatigue (CF) can be defined as the empathic strain [...] Read more.
Compassion fatigue (CF) is a well-researched topic in the fields of mental health and nursing. However, studies on CF in the fields of primary, secondary, and higher education are very recent and scant. Compassion fatigue (CF) can be defined as the empathic strain or general exhaustion experienced by helping professionals such as psychotherapists, nurses, social workers, healthcare workers, family caregivers, and elderly caregivers. In this paper, utilizing the Double ABC-X Stress Model, we explored the antecedents, experiences, and consequences of compassion fatigue among college students and professionals who have previous personal experiences with stress and trauma, work with children and families, and work in higher education to prepare professionals to work in such fields. This study uses an autoethnographic approach, where the five authors of the study were also the participants. Utilizing the lifespan and ecological perspectives, we examined the symptoms preceding compassion fatigue and preventative strategies, as well as risk factors and protective factors. This study covers a breadth of compassion fatigue, from predisposition to onset and recovery, and considers alternative strategies for coping, including creating meaning from difficult experiences. Full article
11 pages, 198 KiB  
Article
Staff Confidence in Supporting Student Mental Health: Outcomes from a Survey
by Ellice Whyte, Helen Payne and Bruce Hajilou
Educ. Sci. 2024, 14(8), 869; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14080869 - 9 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1252
Abstract
(1) Background: The number of university students experiencing mental health problems has been a growing concern over recent decades, and support for them is now considered an inevitable part of the role of an academic. Research into the role of the academic reveals [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The number of university students experiencing mental health problems has been a growing concern over recent decades, and support for them is now considered an inevitable part of the role of an academic. Research into the role of the academic reveals ambiguous expectations and weak support regarding their pastoral responsibilities, leading to a lack of confidence when dealing with student mental health concerns. (2) Methods: Following previous research, the present preliminary study employed an online survey (N = 43) in three schools at a university in the East of England to identify academics’ current confidence in supporting student mental health. This addressed four subscales: (i) identifying mental health concerns in students, (ii) approaching and discussing mental health concerns with students, (iii) academics’ knowledge concerning the central support services available within the university, and (iv) academics’ skills in providing ongoing support for student mental health and wellbeing. (3) Results: Female respondents scored higher than males on their knowledge concerning the central student mental health support services within the university, and 60+-year-old lecturers were least confident in identifying mental health concerns compared to 40–49- and 50–59-year-olds. (4) Conclusions: Recommendations for interventions include mental health awareness training, policy development, and a precise and nuanced description of an academic’s pastoral role and responsibilities to ensure that students receive appropriate and sufficient psychological support. Full article
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