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Link to Recorded Presentations
https://youtu.be/b94NdmV1xfE
Department
Psychology & Family Studies
Format of Presentation
Asynchronous
Research Category
Social Sciences
Description
This study examines the mental health challenges college students face, and these issues can be examined through the lens of the ecological framework and the ABCX stress model. The ecological framework situates students within multiple, interacting systems— microsystem (family, peers, campus), mesosystem (connections among these groups), exosystem (institutional policies, financial aid), and macrosystem (cultural norms, societal expectations)—to illustrate how mental health outcomes are shaped by layered environmental influences. Complementing this perspective, the ABCX stress model provides a structured approach to understanding how stressors (A), available resources (B), and individual or family perceptions (C) interact to produce varying levels of crisis (X). Applying these models together highlights how academic pressures, financial strain, and social isolation may escalate stress, while supportive networks, accessible counseling services, and positive coping strategies can buffer negative outcomes. By integrating ecological and stress-process theories, this study underscores the importance of holistic interventions that address both individual coping mechanisms and systemic supports. Findings contribute to family science by demonstrating how theory-driven approaches can guide policies and practices that promote resilience and mental health among college students.
Recommended Citation
Bouldes, Aubr J., "THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH: A THEORETICAL INTEGRATION" (2026). Undergraduate Research Conference. 3.
https://athenacommons.muw.edu/urc/2026/stem-and-social-sciences-oral-presentations/3
THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH: A THEORETICAL INTEGRATION
This study examines the mental health challenges college students face, and these issues can be examined through the lens of the ecological framework and the ABCX stress model. The ecological framework situates students within multiple, interacting systems— microsystem (family, peers, campus), mesosystem (connections among these groups), exosystem (institutional policies, financial aid), and macrosystem (cultural norms, societal expectations)—to illustrate how mental health outcomes are shaped by layered environmental influences. Complementing this perspective, the ABCX stress model provides a structured approach to understanding how stressors (A), available resources (B), and individual or family perceptions (C) interact to produce varying levels of crisis (X). Applying these models together highlights how academic pressures, financial strain, and social isolation may escalate stress, while supportive networks, accessible counseling services, and positive coping strategies can buffer negative outcomes. By integrating ecological and stress-process theories, this study underscores the importance of holistic interventions that address both individual coping mechanisms and systemic supports. Findings contribute to family science by demonstrating how theory-driven approaches can guide policies and practices that promote resilience and mental health among college students.