Disparities in mentoring and mental health problems of U.S. college students in science and engineering during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This study examines the relationships between mentoring support and mental health problems (i.e. depression and anxiety) among college students in science and engineering in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive results from a nationwide survey of 2352 undergraduates (from 43 institutions in 25 states), indicate that students who identified as women, underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities, of lower socioeconomic status (SES), and persons with disabilities reported higher levels of mental health problems at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (early summer 2020). Structural equation modelling results indicate that student perceptions of instrumental and psychosocial mentoring support were positively associated with mentoring satisfaction (MS), which in turn was negatively associated with their mental health problems. Moderation analysis findings show that the relationship between MS and mental health problems is stronger for low-SES and non-disabled students. Implications for research and efforts to address the mental health problems of college students are discussed.