When in Doubt … Career Indecision, Mental Wellbeing, and Consultation-Seeking Behaviour—A Qualitative Interview Study among Students and Counsellors
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17801036 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Katherina Heinrichs (0000-0003-0775-0528, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, corresponding author), Victoria Hermülheim (Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf), Laura Pilz González (0000-0001-5377-2512, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin), Adrian Loerbroks (0000-0003-2795-8684, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue | 23 |
| Pages | 12604-12604 |
| Publication date | 2021-11-30 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph182312604 |
| PMID | 34886330 |
| OpenAlex | W3215910943 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 4 |
University dropout is often preceded by a phase of doubt whether to continue studying, either in general or just the given subject. Mental health problems might be interrelated with this phase of doubt. Counselling services at German universities could provide help, but do not seem to reach students in need. To explore the phase of doubt and possible (inter-)relationships with mental wellbeing among university students in Germany as well as their consultation-seeking behaviour, a qualitative interview study was conducted (2017-2018). Participants were students casting doubts on their studies ( n = 14) and counsellors ( n = 16) working with this target group. Examples of reasons for doubts were insufficient information, unfulfilled expectations concerning the subject, subjectively poor study conditions, performance problems, and lacking future perspectives. Mental health problems were subjectively intertwined with doubts, considered as both cause and effect. Counselling services were evaluated as hardly helpful by students and as being in need of improvement by counsellors. Suggestions as how to improve such services comprise a more specific and proactive way to approach students. By considering the phase of doubt before dropout, German universities can improve their support services to be more responsive to students and, thus, prevent dropout and mental health problems
German · Medical education · Mental health · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Sociology · Applied Psychology · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Medicine · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health
International Handbook of Emotions in Education
Perceptions of Study Conditions and Depressive Symptoms During the Covid-19 Pandemic Among University Students in Germany
Mental Health, Social and Emotional Well-Being, and Perceived Burdens of University Students During Covid-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Germany
Medical students’ perceptions of stress due to academic studies and its interrelationships with other domains of life
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0.5 |
| Citation span | 2022 - 2023 (2) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |