Emotional Wounds and Parental Communication Patterns as Predictors of Mental Health among Students at an Islamic University

Abstract

College students' mental health is shaped not only by academic pressure but also by family experiences dating back to childhood. This study examined the effect of emotional wounds and parental communication patterns, both partially and simultaneously, on the mental health of college students at Universitas Islam As-Syafi'iyyah (UIA). A quantitative causal-associative approach with a cross-sectional design was applied to 363 active UIA college students selected through quota sampling based on the Slovin formula. Data were gathered using three instruments, then analyzed through multiple linear regression with the Weighted Least Squares method. The results revealed that both emotional wounds (t = 6.322; sig. = 0.000) and parental communication patterns (t = 4.713; sig. = 0.000) significantly predicted mental health; notably, the emotional wounds composite showed a positive rather than negative association, suggesting it functioned as an index of overall parental bonding intensity rather than of emotional deprivation alone. Simultaneously, both variables were also significant (F = 49.126; sig. = 0.000), contributing 21.4% (R² = 0.214), while the remaining 78.6% was explained by other factors such as self-esteem, resilience, and social support. These findings reinforce Attachment Theory, Family, Communication Patterns Theory, and the Ecological Systems Theory, offering implications for developing family-based guidance and counseling services in higher education.