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New Report Finds Emotional Stress as Key Deterrent for Not Enrolling in Higher Education
A new report from Gallup and the Lumina Foundation has found that emotional stress is a significant factor for nearly two-thirds of people who have never enrolled in higher education. It is the fourth most commonly cited reason after the cost of education, inflation, and work conflicts. More women than men cited stress as a deterrent, with 71% of women saying it influenced their decision not to enroll. 55% of respondents also cited their personal mental health as an important reason why they’ve never enrolled in higher education. The report, entitled “Stressed Out and Stopping Out: The Mental Health Crisis in Higher Education,” shows a worrying trend of students dropping out or considering doing so due to emotional stress, which was cited by 55% of respondents who had considered leaving school in the past six months.
COVID’s Impact
While the report shows that most students are no longer considering dropping out due to the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers believe that its residual effects—including a sense of isolation and the challenges of online instruction—are still impacting individuals’ plans to withdraw or not enroll in higher education. This is not the first survey indicating that mental health struggles correlate with a student’s likelihood of leaving college. A previous study by Pennsylvania State University’s Center for Collegiate Mental Health showed that those who reported social anxiety, depression, financial stress, and academic distress dropped out at higher rates than the student population at large.
The report comes at a time when universities and colleges are searching for ways to accommodate student needs for on-campus mental health services. Researchers suggest that advertising the resources they provide might help institutions win over individuals who cite stress as a deterrent to attending college. “Talking about serving the whole student and putting the student first is really important to these [potential] students,” says Courtney Brown, the lead researcher on the report and vice president of impact and planning at Lumina Foundation.
Michelle Dimino, deputy director of education for the think tank Third Way, emphasizes that the study underscores a trend that was evident long before the pandemic. “It’s unfortunately not surprising to see these findings about the huge impact mental health is having on student persistence and enrollment—a mental health crisis in higher education has been building since long before the pandemic, and today’s students are balancing a ton of personal stressors and often working, parenting, and caregiving while enrolled in school. Mental health affects how students cope with challenges and navigate their studies, and providing robust, accessible mental and emotional health supports is essential for colleges to meet the needs of their student bodies.”
In conclusion, the report highlights the need for higher education institutions to prioritize mental health services and support for their students, particularly those who are balancing personal stressors and pressure alongside their academic work.
