A recent survey by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation revealed that 41 percent of college students have considered dropping out, while many other college-age adults have already left or never enrolled at all. Despite these trends, 74 percent of respondents believe that a college degree remains as important as it was 20 years ago. The disconnect lies in the perception that higher education is no longer feasible for many Americans.
Economic reasons are the primary barrier for those avoiding college. The cost of higher education was cited by 55 percent of respondents, inflation by 45 percent, and 38 percent mentioned the need to work, leaving no time for education. For those considering dropping out, the main reason was “emotional stress” (55 percent), followed closely by “personal mental health reasons” (47 percent). Among the currently unenrolled, emotional and mental health issues were significant factors, with 30 percent citing “emotional stress” and 28 percent mentioning “personal mental health reasons.”
These findings highlight the urgent need to address the challenges faced by current and prospective students. While economic issues are substantial and require societal solutions, they are complex and unlikely to be resolved quickly. A more immediate and manageable approach is to teach college-age adults how to handle stress effectively.
In “The Coddling of the American Mind” (2018), Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt argue that people struggle with mental health issues partly because they are taught to avoid stress and negative emotions rather than manage them. They discuss how negative discussions are being removed from classrooms and how students can be punished for upsetting others. This avoidance can lead to catastrophizing, where individuals project an inability to cope with future events. The authors note that this is evident in demands for trigger warnings.
So, how can students be taught to handle stress in a healthier way?
Lukianoff and Haidt suggest Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a solution. CBT trains individuals to view the world more reasonably and positively, focusing on likely outcomes rather than worst-case scenarios. The process involves learning about mental distortions, identifying them, examining the facts, and interpreting reality based on those facts.
If students could learn CBT techniques, they might manage stress instead of avoiding it, potentially reducing dropout rates. By equipping students with the tools to handle stress, we can help them stay in college and succeed academically.
