The real struggles for ’first-in-family’ university students

Female students who are the first in the family to attend university are much more likely to suffer mental health issues compared to their male counterparts, research has revealed. A study from The University of Queensland and University of South Australia that worked with "first-in-family" students has shown 40.9 per cent of females experienced mental health impacts, compared to only 3.8 per cent of men. Associate Professor Garth Stahl from UQ's School of Education said the study - First-in-Family Project - followed 48 students through their transition from school to university life. "Being the first person in their family to attend university often leads to an increased level of grit and determination, and this study explored how experiences differed between genders," Professor Stahl said. "The stark contrast between men and women reporting mental health issues is concerning, and could mean a variety of things. First and foremost, it shows that mental health continues to be a gendered issue and links with other research that suggests men struggle to admit weakness and vulnerability. "In this study, women were more open from the onset regarding their mental health, while male participants began to either experience mental health issues or become more open about their issues as time went on." Dr Sarah McDonald , who was also part of the research project, said students from lower socio-economic backgrounds reported that a lack of finances, time management, coursework assessment items, lack of sleep, and course marks were having a significant impact on their mental health.