UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal

This literature review investigates the challenges first-generation college students face when dealing with mental health issues in college. Four main categories are examined to demonstrate the challenges faced by first-generation college students including the status’ that first-generation college students identify with, their family background and support, cultural support from their peers, and the level of knowledge they have about the college process to be successful. Future researchers could look into studying first-generation college students from different cultures and their mental health with different types of methodologies, that is later stated in the review, which can help conduct studies to help advance this area of psychological research.