Peer Influence on the Psychosocial and Behavioral Health of African American College Students

Authors

  • Kentya H. Ford, DrPH
  • Angela Meshack, DrPH
  • Ronald J. Peters Jr. DrPH
  • Mi-Ting Lin, PhD
  • Sheila Yu, MPH

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47779/ajhs.2017.75

Keywords:

Stress, African American, college health, non-college attending peers

Abstract

The relationship between psychological and behavioral health and bother from non-college at-
tending peers was assessed among 180 African American students attending a historically black university
in the southwestern region of the United States in the spring of 2013. Results: Students reporting stress
related to influence from non-college attending friends reported significantly higher conflicts with their
partners (5.31 vs. 1.26, p < .05), lower personal conflict resolution (2.00 vs. .70, p < .05), and lower
family connectedness (30.81 vs. 34.02, p < .05). Study results emphasize college students’ need for coping
skills to address external culturally-linked stressors. The information gained from this research may provide
strategic guidance in understanding the behavioral and psychosocial effects of extended peer networks on
the mental health of college students.

Published

2017-10-01

How to Cite

Ford, K. H., Meshack, A., Peters, R. J., Lin, M.-T., & Yu, S. (2017). Peer Influence on the Psychosocial and Behavioral Health of African American College Students. American Journal of Health Studies, 32(4). https://doi.org/10.47779/ajhs.2017.75