Education-based stigma and discrimination among young adults not in 4-year college

• Published in: BMC Psychology Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 26
• Main Authors: Meisel, Matthew K, Haikalis, Michelle, Colby, Suzanne M, Barnett, Nancy P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 08.02.2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Academic achievement; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Brand loyalty; College students; Community colleges; Demographic aspects; Discrimination; Education; Educational aspects; Educational Status; Emerging adults; Families & family life; Health aspects; Humans; Life expectancy; Mental Health; Noncollege; Personal income; Questionnaires; Sample size; Secondary schools; Social aspects; Social classes; Social Stigma; Stigma; Stigma (Social psychology); Teenagers; Universities; Young Adult; Young adults; Youth; United States; Emerging adults; Discrimination; Stigma; Noncollege
• ISSN: 2050-7283; 2050-7283
• DOI: 10.1186/s40359-022-00737-4

Lower levels of education are strongly associated with negative health outcomes. The current study examined the degree to which those without a history of 4-year college attendance experience social stigmatization of their educational status and if these experiences are associated with mental health symptoms. Data was obtained from 488 emerging adults who never attended 4-year college using Qualtrics Panels. 79.4% of participants agreed to one of the six statements that not attending 4-year college is stigmatized, and 71.8% endorsed experiencing at least one form of discrimination. Higher levels of education-related stigma and more frequent experiences of education-related discrimination was associated with greater past-month anxiety and depression symptoms. These findings could serve to increase awareness regarding the unique and significant discrimination faced by young adults who do not attend 4-year college and identify specific areas of intervention that can help these young adults cope with the effects of stigma and discrimination.