Emotional Distress in Undergraduate Students

Background: The mental health of undergraduate students is affected by gender. Depression is associated with missing events, sleeping disorders and the feelings of a lack of pleasure. The purpose of our study was to examine whether undergraduate females experience more mental health issues than undergraduate males and nonbinary/third gender at Montclair State University. Method: Undergraduate college students at a university in the northeast were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional study exploring different college experiences. An online survey format, qualtrics, was used to collect data focused on college students' depression, and how sex or grade may have influenced their feelings. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. Frequencies and chi-square analyses were used to explore the relationship among the different variables. Results: There were differences based on gender in missing activities due to emotional problems, feeling depressed, difficulty relaxing, being moody, and crying a lot. More females than males and nonbinary/third gender reported feelings consistent with the aforementioned variables. Discussion: Female undergraduate students appear to experience worse mental health than males and nonbinary/third gender. This could be influenced by the stress of time management between school and relationships, pressure to exceed in school, and underlying mental health problems. Conclusion: Paying attention to signs of a deteriorating mental state, including trouble relaxing, avoiding previously enjoyed activities, and moodiness is important. Encouraging having safe outlets for relieving stress is essential to maintain a healthy mental state during the undergraduate years.