"You are Not Alone": Health-Related Barriers to Academic Success among a Health Science Center Graduate Students

Purpose: Research on the graduate student population is either limited or is targeted towards a specific subpopulation. In general, graduate students are vulnerable and can experience a variety of challenges that may impact their academic performance. These challenges may include personal health issues, stress, depression, anxiety, and other unhealthy behaviors. In an effort to further understand graduate student health, this project aims to identify health-related barriers to academic performance among students attending a graduate-serving health science center. Method: Data from the university's National College Health Assessment (NCHA) survey collected by the Office of Care and Civility will be analyzed to identify health barriers influencing academic performance. Barriers with the highest number of frequencies and percentages will be retained for further descriptive and inferential data reporting. Chi-square tests, Fisher's Exact tests, T-Tests will be conducted and a p-value of < .05 will be considered significant. Results: Data from the NCHA will be analyzed following North Texas Institutional Review Board approval. Conclusion: The stress of being a graduate can negatively impact one's academic success, and by identifying prevalent health-related academic barriers, we can create effective and novel interventions that address student development and academic success.