Perceptions of anti-racism efforts and mental health among students in higher education in the United States
BackgroundAnti-racism efforts are imperative for campus communities, yet little is known about whether perceiving their presence on campuses relates to a range of mental health outcomes among students.MethodsWe analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Study 2020–2021 (N = 110,203). Using multivariable l...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1529835/full |
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| author | Hans Oh Nicole R. Karcher Megan Besecker Jordan E. DeVylder Karen D. Lincoln |
| author_facet | Hans Oh Nicole R. Karcher Megan Besecker Jordan E. DeVylder Karen D. Lincoln |
| author_sort | Hans Oh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundAnti-racism efforts are imperative for campus communities, yet little is known about whether perceiving their presence on campuses relates to a range of mental health outcomes among students.MethodsWe analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Study 2020–2021 (N = 110,203). Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the associations between perceptions of anti-racism efforts and several mental health outcomes.ResultsIndividuals who disagreed that their schools combatted racism in their campus communities had significantly greater odds of mental health problems (depression, anxiety, psychotic experiences, suicidal ideation, suicide plan, suicide attempt, perceived need for help, and loneliness), and lower odds of flourishing when compared with those who strongly agreed with the statement. For most outcomes, we observed an apparent dose–response association.ConclusionPerceiving the presence of anti-racism efforts on campuses was inversely associated with mental health problems, calling for more research to test the effects of anti-racism efforts on mental health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c94516d08217457bab789cb0b4eb3b2c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-c94516d08217457bab789cb0b4eb3b2c2025-02-07T12:46:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-02-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15298351529835Perceptions of anti-racism efforts and mental health among students in higher education in the United StatesHans Oh0Nicole R. Karcher1Megan Besecker2Jordan E. DeVylder3Karen D. Lincoln4Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United StatesPrice School of Public Policy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesSilver School of Social Work, New York University, New York, NY, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, Joe C. Wen School of Population and Public Health, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United StatesBackgroundAnti-racism efforts are imperative for campus communities, yet little is known about whether perceiving their presence on campuses relates to a range of mental health outcomes among students.MethodsWe analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Study 2020–2021 (N = 110,203). Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the associations between perceptions of anti-racism efforts and several mental health outcomes.ResultsIndividuals who disagreed that their schools combatted racism in their campus communities had significantly greater odds of mental health problems (depression, anxiety, psychotic experiences, suicidal ideation, suicide plan, suicide attempt, perceived need for help, and loneliness), and lower odds of flourishing when compared with those who strongly agreed with the statement. For most outcomes, we observed an apparent dose–response association.ConclusionPerceiving the presence of anti-racism efforts on campuses was inversely associated with mental health problems, calling for more research to test the effects of anti-racism efforts on mental health.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1529835/fullracismanti-racismdepressionanxietypsychosisflourishing |
| spellingShingle | Hans Oh Nicole R. Karcher Megan Besecker Jordan E. DeVylder Karen D. Lincoln Perceptions of anti-racism efforts and mental health among students in higher education in the United States Frontiers in Public Health racism anti-racism depression anxiety psychosis flourishing |
| title | Perceptions of anti-racism efforts and mental health among students in higher education in the United States |
| title_full | Perceptions of anti-racism efforts and mental health among students in higher education in the United States |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions of anti-racism efforts and mental health among students in higher education in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions of anti-racism efforts and mental health among students in higher education in the United States |
| title_short | Perceptions of anti-racism efforts and mental health among students in higher education in the United States |
| title_sort | perceptions of anti racism efforts and mental health among students in higher education in the united states |
| topic | racism anti-racism depression anxiety psychosis flourishing |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1529835/full |
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