Joel Kirby
Depression, anxiety, and mental health issues have appeared to become more prevalent in this age of increased health care accessibility. Nationally, surveys conducted in the past few decades indicate a rise in mental health issues, according to Jerald Kay M.D., who states that "in the past 15 years, depression has doubled and suicide tripled" (in America).
This national trend in increasing psychological issues has also been observed among college students. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) has observed an increase in the number of college students seeking aid for anxiety disorders, which reflects a general increase in psychological issues among college students today. However, although more students are seeking psychiatric help, a University of Michigan study found that many avoid help, which mean even more students could be suffering.
Before one asks the question, “Why is this happening among college students?”, it is important to realize that the onset of disorders such as depression and anxiety are more likely to occur between the ages of 18 and 24. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, "75 percent of all individuals with an anxiety disorder will experience symptoms before age 22," as cited in an ADAA Report.
Now, to answer the question “Why is this happening among college students?”, there are several plausible factors to be considered. Firstly, college is obviously a major transition for anyone. Students are exposed to new ideas, cultures, philosophies, and unfamiliar surroundings and people. Although many can cope with these changes, some students struggle with their new surroundings, and are more likely to develop psychological issues. When exposed to these new surroundings, people, and ideas, students may feel inadequate, and be unable to cope with the "stressors" they face at college, which can lead to anxiety and depression.
College students may also struggle with understanding their own identities, a concept coined “Identity Disorientation” by Hilary Silver, a licensed clinical social worker and mental health expert for “Campus Calm”. At college, students are no longer around familiar surroundings, and may lose a sense of who they are. This can of course lead to traits of anxiety and depression.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Anxiety and Depression among college students... Why is this happening?
Mandatory Attendance Policies: Are they necessary in college?
Cherish Weiler
From the beginning of elementary school to the last year of high school, students are forced to follow a strict school attendance policy. For our entire school careers, teachers and school administrators drill into our heads the importance of eliminating absences and tardiness. However, that time of our lives is gone. As newly initiated college students, we no longer need to worry about parents forcing us to go to school or teachers punishing us for missing a class. As responsible young adults, are we not capable of making our own decisions, such as whether or not to attend our classes?
Most college students are paying to attend college and are expected to act as responsible, mature adults. Yet, why do some professors still demand our attendance and threaten missing classes with a deduction in our final grade? According to the Atlantic Economic Journal, nearly all professors stated that their undergraduate students cut classes. In 1993, Romer presented evidence that suggested poor attendance directly accounts for poor grades. As a result, Romer suggests professors require students to attend class in order to improve their performance in school. In 1994, Stephenson stated that professors should not “mandate attendance” because students miss the “least productive classes” and are not primed to learn when they are forced to attend class. Additionally, he remarks that there is no concrete evidence supporting the relationship between mandatory attendance and increased academic performance. However, recent evidence suggests that attendance does in fact correlate to higher academic performance, supporting Romer’s claims.
While there appears to be a positive relationship between class attendance and higher grades, attendance should not be mandatory. If students are willing to skip class, they should understand the potential risks of doing so, including a decrease in their final grade. Just because mandatory attendance accounts for higher grades does not mean college professors should be implementing mandatory attendance for a group of adults paying their way through college. It is up to the student to responsibly attend classes understanding the risks of not doing so.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Sleepless in Atlanta: The Harmful Effects of Sleep Deprivation
Cherish Weiler
After a long, lazy summer of never-ending days of sleeping until the mid-afternoon, college is sure to jolt students back to what in-part defines a rigorous curriculum: sleepless nights. Colleges often joke that students can only maintain two of the three main aspects of college life: a social life, good grades, and restful sleep. While upperclassmen make these statements in jest, sleep deprivation is a serious issue affecting millions of college students. According to Science Daily, “College students are among the most sleep-deprived age group in the U.S.”
Why are students as sleep-deprived as they are? For the most part, late-night studying and all-nighters prevent students from getting the suggested eight hours of sleep. When students are not staying up late due to homework, many of them are trying to maintain a social life of late-night social events and parties. All in all, this schedule leaves little time for necessary, restful sleep. While students may be willing to give up their one night of a potential restful sleep to mingle with friends, the effects of sleep deprivation are much more serious than they may realize. Students often forego proper sleep, assuming lack of sleep is just another aspect of college life. In reality, sleep deprivation is linked to inattentiveness, poor academic performance, and poor health. A more serious stage of sleep deprivation, insomnia, is associated with more severe consequences including mood disorders such as depression and substance abuse.
College students cannot afford to come to college with the assumption that they will feel adequately rested throughout their years at school. However, too many students do not make the effort to get enough sleep. While some might argue that school officials need to step up and monitor students more closely, a big part of ensuring students sleep well falls on the students themselves. Time management skills, regular exercise, and a support system can all help students work around their difficult schedules and ensure they receive enough sleep. Everyone should be capable of catching the elusive myth that is a good night’s rest.
Changed Technology Trends Among College Students
Looking back a few years ago, not everyone in college had brilliant hand-held technology like smartphones to surf the web, watch videos on Youtube, and check Facebook all day. Recently developed technology gives us so many benefits to improve the quality of our lives, and it is getting better and better by every minute.
However, some people were worried about the wrong way to use technology in the recent past. According to the study conducted among college students by Erin Gemmill and Michael Peterson which was published in NASPA Journal, 2006, Vol.43, no.2, 25% of 299 undergraduate students had problems in their education with disruptions from technology. Also, this study shows a slightly different trends in usage of technology int the recent past as it is rapidly changing.
These days, while walking around the campus, being in class, or eating breakfast in the dining hall, I see so many people with smartphones web surfing, talking with friends and many people with laptop outside doing research, checking social network sites, and chatting through instant messengers. With today's technology, we can do pretty much anything, anywhere, anytime. Yes, it is of course in today's point of view, and it will be much more tomorrow.
As a Georgia Tech student, it is a quite pleasant thing to see and live where new trend of technology abounds. These splendid devices absolutely make my life better and many others'. Even though some negatives have been found along with development of technology, I don't think those are problems of technology itself. The fundamental purpose of technology is to benefit people's quality of life, and it would never easily change. Our homework is to build a good foundation of how to utilize this tool in proper way. After the homework is finished, disruption from technology among college students will be gone, and it would feel like when I am finished with all my homeworks in Friday afternoon.
