Abstract: A lot of research has been done to show that social isolation can become a huge health risk of not taken care of properly. Many scientists and researchers compare social isolation to smoking and obesity. Although social isolation and smoking/obesity have two different causes but the long term mental effects such as anxiety and depression. In this paper I will be discussing how a student’s socioeconomic background can put them at either a higher risk or a lower risk of social isolation and disorders like anxiety and depression in college. I will also be explaining how students who come from wealthier families and more affluent backgrounds are at a lower risk of mental disorders. Through researching and reading several different scholarly resources I’ve come to a conclusion that students from less affluent families are at higher risks of social isolation as a cause of extreme stress and later develop mental health disorders. This paper will explain the “whys” and “hows” between the different support levels that go towards less affluent student’s vs more affluent students and what can be done to help students who suffer from such disorders.
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