Individual, Interpersonal, and Institutional Level Factors Associated With the Mental Health of College Students

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the individual, interpersonal, and institutional level factors that are associated with overall mental health among college students. PARTICIPANTS: Data are from an online cross-sectional survey of 2,203 students currently enrolled at a large public university. METHODS: Mental health was ascertained using a subcomponent of the RAND Medical Outcomes Study functioning and well-being measures developed by the RAND corporation. Stepwise regression was used to determine if self-reported measures of individual (ie, coping abilities), interpersonal (ie, intergroup awareness), and institutional (ie, campus climate/tension) level factors were associated with overall mental health, after controlling for demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The combined effects of both individual and institutional level measures were associated with student mental health. In particular, limited coping abilities and a perceived racially tense campus climate contributed to the psychological distress of college students. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneously addressing the individual and institutional level influences on mental health offers the most promising help for students.