Principal Investigator: Paris Wicker (University at Buffalo- SUNY)

Project Description: The emotional well-being of Black and Indigenous college students is of particular concern given growing evidence of well-being disparities by race, and by gender. This project will identify relational determinants that predict well-being support among Black and Indigenous students by analyzing their social support networks. Utilizing a sequential mixed-methods social network analysis approach that integrates quantitative network data alongside qualitative narrative data, this study will analyze the n= 300 supportive connections of 22 college students to: (1) identify social network characteristics that predict strong emotional support, accounting for individual and interpersonal, and environmental effects, and (2) highlight the processes of maintaining supportive relationships both on and off campus. The findings will contribute to intervention development research and provide a broader understanding of the social-relational dynamics influencing well-being among marginalized college student populations, thereby promoting greater health equity in higher education