Navigating transitions out of post-secondary education: a mixed methods study of emerging adult mental health and access to support pre-and post-graduation

Abstract

Mental health during emerging adulthood (18-29) is cause for concern, as this is the age period with highest rates of mental disorders and dropout from mental health services. While much research has examined transitions into university and campus-based service access, scarce evidence exists on how to support student mental health as they transition out of postsecondary programs, and ensuring continuity of care post-graduation is a necessity. There is a need for developmentally specific mental health support that caters to the growing and changing demands of this life period, as graduates can get lost in this transition. This dissertation aimed to investigate students’ experiences of mental health and access to support as they transitioned out of their university undergraduate degree programs. Three studies were conducted. First, quantitative survey data were collected to assess the mental health, help seeking, and support utilization of final-year undergraduate students who had registered to graduate. Differences in mental health and support access were examined by key social positions which included race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality and current and childhood financial stress. Second, qualitative interviews were conducted among 18 of the surveyed students about one-year post-graduation, to explore their mental health experiences over the transition out of their undergraduate programs. Finally, a partially convergent parallel mixed methods study integrated survey and interview data to understand factors that support and/or impede mental health service access post-graduation. Results show final-year student psychosocial well-being, depression, and anxiety were independently linked to gender, sexuality and current and childhood financial stress. Access to informal and formal supports and services are highlighted by various population subgroups. Experiences during the transition of distress and feelings of doubt, the importance of connections, the COVID-19 pandemic, and mental health service use are discussed. Results underscore that informal supports (e.g., friends, family) are important anticipated and accessed sources of mental health support during the transition. Graduates also further highlighted financial concerns and accessibility issues with free mental health services, post-graduation. This research adds to the literature on the mental health and service access in final-year and recently graduated undergraduate students, which is an understudied demographic and transitionary period.