Year: 2016
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study examines the impacts of grief and bereavement among undergraduate students enrolled at Abilene Christian University. Research indicates that bereavement is a significant matter in the lives of no less than 40% of the students on the campus (Balk, 2008). Grief and bereavement affects students holistically, impacting their emotional, cognitive, physical, social, and spiritual/religious state. Because of these impacts, it is extremely important for university faculty and administration to recognize the frequency of grief on campus. It is crucial for the university to understand how to respond to students who are grieving to ensure that we retain students. To determine how students at ACU are affected by grief and bereavement, university engagement, and retention, a survey providing a holistic grief scale and supplemental questions was administered to all undergraduates. Results indicated strong relationships between scores on the Holistic Grief Scale and academic engagement variables (i.e., considering withdrawal from the university, missing classes, and a decrease in GPA). Implications include increasing efforts to identify, and offer various forms of support to, students who are experiencing grief-related academic issues. In essence, offering such support could have a significant effect on student retention.
Author: Kaitlin E Roberts
Institution: Abilene Christian University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2342416592