Campus Climate and the Mental Health of College Student Caregivers: The Mediating Role of Group Belonging

Abstract: This current study focused on the experiences of student caregivers in U.S. higher education institutions, which have increasing enrollment of undergraduate student bodies. Drawing from 7,990 student caregivers (n = 5,536 female; 69%) who participated in the 2018–2019 Healthy Minds Study, this study examined the link between campus climate and college student caregivers’ psychological outcomes, specifically anxiety and depression. We further investigated the mediating role of group belonging, or the feeling that a student belongs to an identity group on campus (such as LGBTQIA+, first-generation). Mediation analyses revealed that perceived campus climate is negatively linked to anxiety and depression through student caregiver’ perceived group belonging. Student caregivers described feeling like they belonged within their academic communities, BIPOC/racial-ethnic communities, and housing communities. Findings lay the foundation for institutional change by emphasizing the need for socioemotional support and group belonging for student caregivers. More research is needed to examine which group identities have the strongest effect on mental health.