Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


gilbert_danielle_2021.pdf (346.41 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

The College Student with Big, Big Feelings: Emotional Flexibility and Well-being in an Undergraduate Population

Gilbert, Danielle
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wuhonors1643818225352723

Abstract Details

2021, Bachelor of Arts, Wittenberg University, Psychology.
Rising rates of mental illness in the college student population are a cause of concern that needs to be addressed to effectively support students. One promising opportunity for intervention is facilitating emotional flexibility and reducing emotional inflexibility among college students. The present study examined the relationships between emotional flexibility and emotional inflexibility, and variables related to well-being and mental illness in a college population. Undergraduate students at Wittenberg University (N = 100) completed a brief online survey measuring emotional flexibility, emotional inflexibility, coping strategies, thriving, anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout. Participants were also invited to complete a follow-up survey four weeks after the original study to explore potential changes in these variables over time. Participants higher in emotional flexibility scored lower on anxiety, stress, depression, and burnout and scored higher in problem-focused coping strategies and thriving. Participants who were higher in emotional inflexibility scored higher in anxiety, stress, depression, and burnout and lower in problem-focused coping strategies. Emotional inflexibility was also positively correlated with emotion-focused coping strategies, avoidant-focused coping strategies, and thriving. These findings support a strong positive relationship between emotional flexibility and well-being in this population. Future experimental studies are needed to establish causal relationships, but the results of this study are consistent with the proposed benefits of interventions that promote emotional flexibility in a college student population.
William Davis (Advisor)
Nona Moskowitz (Committee Member)
Stephanie Little (Committee Member)
37 p.
Higher Education; Mental Health; Psychology
College students; university students; undergraduate students; mental health; mental illness; emotional flexibility; adaptability; depression; anxiety; stress; burnout; coping strategies; coping behavior; academic stress; thriving; well-being

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Gilbert, D. (2021). The College Student with Big, Big Feelings: Emotional Flexibility and Well-being in an Undergraduate Population [Undergraduate thesis, Wittenberg University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wuhonors1643818225352723

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gilbert, Danielle. The College Student with Big, Big Feelings: Emotional Flexibility and Well-being in an Undergraduate Population. 2021. Wittenberg University, Undergraduate thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wuhonors1643818225352723.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gilbert, Danielle. "The College Student with Big, Big Feelings: Emotional Flexibility and Well-being in an Undergraduate Population." Undergraduate thesis, Wittenberg University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wuhonors1643818225352723

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

wuhonors1643818225352723
394
© 2021, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Wittenberg University Honors Theses and OhioLINK.