Holistic Grief Effects, Mental Health, and Counseling Support in Bereaved College Students

Abstract:This study examined the relationships between holistic grief effects experienced by college students, mental health, and the use of various counseling supports. A total of 1,092 college students completed an online survey about their losses, holistic grief effects they experienced, and the various types of counseling support they utilized while grieving. Students also shared prior diagnoses of depression, eating disorders, insomnia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Of the 842 students who experienced a loss, students reported emotional, cognitive, behavioral, physical, interpersonal, and world assumption grief effects. Approximately 10% of students utilized off-campus professional counseling support, and 8% used campus counseling center support. An even smaller number of students utilized face-to-face peer support groups or online support groups. Students who utilized on-campus counseling and off-campus professional counseling reported significantly more holistic effects in all areas. Students who utilized online support groups reported significantly more physical grief effects, and students who utilized face-to-face-support groups reported significantly more physical, cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal grief effects. Statistically significant associations were found for students diagnosed with depression and their use of both off-campus professional counseling and campus counseling center support, as well as previous ADHD diagnoses and use of campus counseling center support. Implications for universities is addressed and recommendations for future research are also discussed.