Abstract
This study examined the academic, behavioral, and
socio-emotional health of 125 first-time freshmen and 86 graduating seniors at
a HBCU. It compared the types of challenges that students face on entering
college with the challenges experienced as they are about to graduate. The goal
was to develop a predictive model of student success with intervention
strategies that address the challenges associated with retention and
graduation. It was predicted that substance use, mental health challenges and
level of stress experienced by students will impact academic success as
measured by grade point average (GPA). Also, it was hypothesized that the
impact of these psychosocial factors will be different for freshmen and
seniors. The results of the study indicated that academic success was
negatively related to alcohol and marijuana use for a subsample of females
only. High levels of depression and anxiety resulted in alcohol abuse for all
participants. Stress had a negative impact on academic success with the highest
impact evident among freshmen. Intrapersonal stress was a major factor in
determining academic success. These results will inform educators about the
role of behavioral and socio-emotional factors in the lives of students and how
the relationship among these variables impact retention and graduation.
