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Abstract

Many college students experience mental health problems and engage in risky behavior. These problems perpetuate negative outcomes such as poor academic performance and health problems, which may ultimately result in dropping out of college. Maladaptive cognitions, such as criminogenic thinking, have been established as an important contributor to an array of problematic, undesired outcomes in a variety of populations. Criminogenic thinking has been shown to be present in college students, but its association to students’ problematic behavior and emotions has not previously been explored. The results of this study establish a link between criminogenic thinking and negative emotions and problematic behavior in college students, which has important implications for mental health treatment toward improving college students’ psychological well-being and academic success.

Keywords

college students mental health criminogenic thinking retention academic misconduct

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Understanding College Students’ Problems

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