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Updated: Jan 6, 2026
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Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
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First-generation college students' hope for change through counseling: a comparative study.
Theodore T Bartholomew1,2, Candace Tsai1, Lizbeth Valdivia-Jauregui3
1Department of Psychology, Scripps College, Claremont, CA, USA.
Cogent Mental Health
|November 20, 2025
Summary
First-generation college students face barriers to mental health services. Despite similar hope and attitudes towards counseling, they utilize services less than peers, highlighting a need for targeted support.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Higher Education Studies
- Sociology
Background:
- First-generation college students are a growing demographic in US higher education.
- This population often experiences increased psychological distress and lower utilization of campus mental health services.
- Existing literature identifies barriers such as unfamiliarity with institutions, belongingness issues, and financial difficulties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the underutilization of counseling services by first-generation college students compared to continuing-generation students.
- To explore the role of hope for counseling as a potential factor in service utilization.
- To examine attitudes towards help-seeking and stigma among first-generation college students.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative study involving 518 participants (312 first-generation college students) from two higher education institutions.
- Data collection included measures of attitudes towards help-seeking, stigma of help-seeking, hope for counseling, and psychological stress.
- Comparative analysis between first-generation and continuing-generation college students.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found in hope for counseling, stigma of help-seeking, or general attitudes towards help-seeking between first-generation and continuing-generation students.
- First-generation college students reported significantly lower current utilization of counseling services.
- Psychological stress levels were not detailed in the provided abstract summary.
Conclusions:
- The underutilization of counseling services by first-generation college students is not explained by lower hope or more negative attitudes towards help-seeking.
- Despite similar psychological profiles regarding help-seeking, first-generation students use services less, indicating systemic or contextual barriers.
- Further research and targeted support strategies are needed to address the service utilization gap for first-generation college students.
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