Education-based stigma and discrimination among young adults not in 4-year college
Matthew K Meisel1, Michelle Haikalis2, Suzanne M Colby2
1Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Box G-S121-4, Providence, RI, 02903, USA. matthew_meisel@brown.edu.
Background:
Lower levels of education are strongly associated with negative health outcomes. The current study examined the degree to which those without a history of 4-year college attendance experience social stigmatization of their educational status and if these experiences are associated with mental health symptoms.
Methods:
Data was obtained from 488 emerging adults who never attended 4-year college using Qualtrics Panels.
Results:
79.4% of participants agreed to one of the six statements that not attending 4-year college is stigmatized, and 71.8% endorsed experiencing at least one form of discrimination. Higher levels of education-related stigma and more frequent experiences of education-related discrimination was associated with greater past-month anxiety and depression symptoms.
Conclusions:
These findings could serve to increase awareness regarding the unique and significant discrimination faced by young adults who do not attend 4-year college and identify specific areas of intervention that can help these young adults cope with the effects of stigma and discrimination.
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