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UNF professor spearheads national report on sorority women’s mental health

May 12, 2025

University of North Florida Associate Professor of Higher Education Administration, Dr. Amanda Blakewood Pascale, produced a groundbreaking national report addressing mental health among sorority women in college. The report, titled The State of Sorority Women’s Mental Health, was recently released by the Foundation for Fraternal Excellence and funded in partnership with the National Panhellenic Conference.

As lead researcher and author, Dr. Pascale examined critical questions about the mental health of sorority women compared to their unaffiliated peers. The study highlights key findings, including:

  • Sorority women report lower rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
  • They experience fewer feelings of loneliness and higher levels of psychological flourishing.
  • Sorority women are less likely to face critical stressors like financial instability or food insecurity.

Despite these positive outcomes, the report also reveals some knowledge gaps. Sorority women have less awareness of mental health symptoms and treatment options compared to their peers. Additionally, the study underscores rising stress and anxiety levels among sorority women, emphasizing the importance of peer support and a strong sense of belonging as protective factors. Dr. Pascale and her team provided actionable recommendations to improve mental health resources, including peer-led initiatives and enhanced advisor training.

“In recent years, there’s been growing recognition that mental health is a central part of the student experience,” said Pascale. “Our goal with this report is to better understand the contemporary sorority women’s experience with regard to mental health and well-being, and to help student affairs professionals and higher education leaders respond with empathy and evidence-based strategies.”

Pascale, who has taught in UNF’s Department of Leadership, School Counseling and Sport Management since 2017, has long focused her research on leadership in higher education, and college student success.

“Today’s students are deeply committed to their communities, but they’re also under immense pressure,” said Pascale. “My hope is that this report leads to meaningful, student-centered changes on campuses nationwide.”

The full report is available through the Foundation for Fraternal Excellence’s website.