Our group’s general research area is mental health in college students; specifically, what we are focusing on is the presence of somatic (physical) symptoms in transitioning college students with mental health issues or experiences. Our work was conducted via an online survey; students from the LEADS Institute Programs were asked to fill out the form based on their experiences, and we gathered our results from the students who answered our group’s questions in the survey. Our research questions focus on if somatic symptoms correlate to mental health of transitioning college students. This question is relevant to the social science field as it further analyzes how our mental feelings, thoughts, and emotions can create physical and damaging symptoms. Our research supported that there is an intense positive correlation between mental health of transitioning college students and somatic symptoms. Knowing this, we can compare these results with data regarding different aged students and determine whether transitioning students are disproportionately affected or not. From there we can then further the research to provide awareness and solutions relating to combating the mental health struggles and the frequent physical strain associated with the transition to college. This research will be relevant for our intended careers because most of us are social science majors, so the findings in our study give us a good understanding of how the mind works with the body in college students.
Authors: Iyahna Campbell, Psychology Major, Hayley Buhro, Psychology and Premedical Studies Major,
Emma McHenry, English-Creative Writing Major, Lily Sawyer, Psychology and Premedical Studies Major
Advisor(s); Carolyn Craig, Visiting Faculty, College of Arts and Science and Ph.D. Student, Department of Educational Leadership, College of Education, Health, and Society
Abigail Morgan, Social Science Librarian
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