Mental Health Challenges among Financially Disadvantaged Students at South African Universities: A Scoping Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35898/ghmj-931339Keywords:
Mental health , Financial support, Psychological distress, Financial hardship, Students, South AfricaAbstract
Background: Financial constraints are a significant stressor for university students in South Africa, particularly those without stable financial support. These students often face challenges in meeting tuition, accommodation, and other basic needs, which may negatively impact their mental health. Despite growing recognition of student mental health, the experiences of financially disadvantaged students remain underexplored.
Aims: This scoping review maps and synthesises evidence on mental health challenges among financially disadvantaged students at South African universities, identifying key stressors, associated factors, and research gaps
Methods: A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed and grey literature was conducted across Google Scholar, PubMed, Sabinet, Psych-info, and Web of Science for studies published between January 2020 and December 2025. Eligible studies focused on financially disadvantaged students at South African universities and reported mental health outcomes. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data, with disagreements resolved through consensus. The final search was completed on 31 January 2026. Sixteen studies were included and analysed using a narrative synthesis approach guided by a thematic approach.
Results: Financially disadvantaged students consistently reported anxiety, stress, depressive symptoms, and psychological distress associated with financial hardship. The most represented populations were first-year students, low-income or rural students, and NSFAS-funded students. Food insecurity, unstable accommodation, and academic pressure commonly co-occurred with financial hardship, while limited access to mental health services further compounded these challenges. Few studies examined integrated interventions addressing both financial and mental health challenges.
Conclusion: Financially disadvantaged students face complex mental health challenges driven by socio-economic and institutional factors. A major gap identified is the lack of integrated interventions addressing both financially disadvantaged students and mental health. The findings highlight an urgent need for coordinated context-specific institutional responses that integrate financial support, mental health services, and academic assistance within South African higher education.
Downloads
References
Adams, D. R., Meyers, S. A., & Beidas, R. S. (2016). The relationship between financial strain, perceived stress, psychological symptoms, and academic and social integration in undergraduate students. Journal of American College Health, 64(5), 362-370. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2016.1154559
Amare, A., Ygzaw, N., Tesfaye, B., Trfeneh, E., Tinsae, S., Temesgen, K., et al. (2025). Prevalence and associated factors of mental distress among private college nursing students in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1544252. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1544252
Arksey, H., & O'malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616
Asante, K. O., & Andoh-Arthur, J. (2015). Prevalence and determinants of depressive symptoms among university students in Ghana. Journal of affective disorders, 171, 161-166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.09.025
Auerbach, R. P., Alonso, J., Axinn, W. G., Cuijpers, P., Ebert, D. D., Green, J. G., & Bruffaerts, R. (2016). Mental disorders among college students in the World Health Organization world mental health surveys. Psychological Medicine, 46(14), 2955-2970. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291716001665
Bantjes, J., Kessler, M., Lochner, C., Breet, E., Bawa, A., Roos, J., et al. (2023). The mental health of university students in South Africa: Results of the national student survey. Journal of Affective Disorders, 321, 217-226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.10.044
Bruffaerts, R., Mortier, P., Kiekens, G., Auerbach, R. P., Cuijpers, P., Demyttenaere, K., et al. (2018). Mental health problems in college freshmen: Prevalence and academic functioning. Journal of Affective Disorders, 225, 97–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.07.044
Cele, S. M. K., & Gaillard, C. (2025). The Impact of Financial Challenges on the Attrition of Black African Students in South African Universities. Journal of Research in Higher Education, 9(1), 49-68. https://doi.org/10.24193/JRHE.2025.1.3
Chiramba, O., & Ndofirepi, E. S. (2023). Access and success in higher education: Disadvantaged students lived experiences beyond funding hurdles at a metropolitan South African university. South African Journal of Higher Education, 37(6), 56-75. https://dx.doi.org/10.20853/37-6-6021
Dachew, B. A., Azale Bisetegn, T., & Berhe Gebremariam, R. (2015). Prevalence of mental distress and associated factors among undergraduate students at University of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional institutional based study. Plos one, 10(3), e0119464. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0119464
Eloff, I., & Graham, M. (2020). Measuring mental health and well-being of South African undergraduate students. Global Mental Health, 7, e34. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2020.26
Gorczynski, P., Sims-Schouten, W., Hill, D., & Wilson, J. C. (2017). Examining mental health literacy, help seeking behaviours, and mental health outcomes in UK university students. The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 12(2), 111-120. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-05-2016-0027
Jacobs, L., Moolman, A. M., & De Beer, E. (2019). #Feesmustfall and beyond: Towards a sustainable national student loan regulatory framework. South African Journal of Higher Education, 33(1), 127-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.20853/33-1-1336
Julius, B., Putteeraj, M., & Somanah, J. (2024). A Systematic Review of University Students' Mental Health in Sub-Saharan Africa. Transformation in Higher Education, 9(0), a316. https://doi.org/10.4102/the.v9i0.316
Li, Q., Li, J., & Fan, Y. (2025). Addressing mental health in university students: a call for action. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1614999. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1614999
Mabuza, N. H. (2020). Dropout causes of students funded by the national student financial aid scheme in South African universities. (Doctoral thesis). University of South Africa, South Africa.
Maepa, P. (2024). An Investigation of the Financial and Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Students at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. (Master's thesis). University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
Mbanjwa, S. T. (2025). Exploring the impact of financial exclusion on student performance and retention: A cross-sectional study at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT). Student’s Journal of Health Research Africa, 6(6), 1-10.
Mngomezulu, S., Dhunpath, R., & Munro, N. (2017). Does financial assistance undermine academic success? Experiences of at-risk students in a South African university. Journal of Education (University of KwaZulu-Natal), (68), 131-148.
Munn, Z., Peters, M. D., Stern, C., Tufanaru, C., McArthur, A., & Aromataris, E. (2018). Systematic review or scoping review? Guidance for authors when choosing between a systematic or scoping review approach. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 18(1), 143. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-018-0611-x
Musundire, A., & Mumanyi, O. (2020). Exploring challenges, opportunities and prospects associated with higher education student funding in the context of South Africa. Journal of Management & Administration, 2020(1), 101-122. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-1da02559bc
Nasr, R., Rahman, A. A., Haddad, C., Nasr, N., Karam, J., Hayek, J., & Alami, N. (2024). The impact of financial stress on student wellbeing in Lebanese higher education. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 1809. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19312-0
Noutchie, S. C. O. (2024). Mitigating the costs of failure: NSFAS challenges and the need for an undergraduate grade reform in South African universities. International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy, 6(4), 426-431. https://doi.org/10.36096/ijbes.v6i4.578
Paiva, U., Cortese, S., Flor, M., Moncada-Parra, A., Lecumberri, A., Eudave, L., et al. (2025). Prevalence of mental disorder symptoms among university students: An umbrella review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 175, 106244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106244
Patel, V., Saxena, S., Lund, C., Kohrt, B., Kieling, C., Sunkel, C., et al. (2023). Transforming mental health systems globally: principles and policy recommendations. The Lancet, 402(10402), 656-666. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00918-2
Peters, M. D., Marnie, C., Tricco, A. C., Pollock, D., Munn, Z., Alexander, L., et al. (2020). Updated methodological guidance for the conduct of scoping reviews. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 18(10), 2119-2126. https://doi.org/10.11124/jbies-20-00167
Pretorius, M., & Blaauw, D. (2020). Financial challenges and the subjective well-being of first-year students at a comprehensive South African university. Journal of Student Affairs in Africa, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.24085/jsaa.v8i1.4181
Ravhuhali, F., Nendauni, L., Sikhwari, T. D., Lavhelani, N. P., Dama, N. G., Matodzi, T., et al. (2022). A self-determination theoretical approach into survival strategies of on-campus and off-campus students from low-income families. South African Journal of Higher Education, 36(3), 231-248. https://dx.doi.org/10.20853/36-3-4658
Ruswa, A., & Gore, O. (2022). Student poverty in South African universities: Promoting the wellbeing and success of students. Perspectives in Education, 40(4), 4-18. https://doi.org/10.38140/pie.v40i4.6379
Smit, N. (2021). Social exclusion and mental health challenges: exploring the experiences of mental health challenges among university students from marginalised backgrounds. (Master’s thesis). University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Tricco, A. C., Lillie, E., Zarin, W., O'Brien, K. K., Colquhoun, H., Levac, D., et al. (2018). PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): checklist and explanation. Annals of Internal Medicine, 169(7), 467-473. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-0850
Wagner, F., Wagner, R. G., Makuapane, L. P., Masango, M., Kolanisi, U., & Gomez-Olive, F. X. (2024). Mental distress, food insecurity and university student dropout during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: evidence from South Africa. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1336538. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1336538
Walker, M., & Mathebula, M. (2020). Low-income rural youth migrating to urban universities in South Africa: Opportunities and inequalities. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 50(8), 1193-1209. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2019.1587705
Wildschut, A., Megbowon, E., & Miselo, A. (2020). Impact of funding on academic performance: An exploration of two South African universities. Journal of Education (University of KwaZulu-Natal), (81), 29-49. https://doi.org/10.17159/2520-9868/i81a02
Wilson Fadiji, A., Wildschut, A., Cromhout, A., & Megbowon, E. T. (2025). Exploring levels of mental health: a focus on financially disadvantaged students in the South African higher education system. South African Journal of Psychology, 55(4), 549-569. https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463251362754
Winter, M. L., & Olivia, S. G. (2024). A scoping review of mental health needs and challenges among medical students within South African universities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(5), 593. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050593
World Health Organization. (2022). World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all. World Health Organization. Available from: https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/40e5a13a-fe50-4efa-b56d-6e8cf00d5bfa/content (Accessed 25 June 2026).
Downloads
Published
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Tiisetso Aubrey Chuene, Banele Nkosingiphile Siboza
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
GHMJ (Global Health Management Journal) conforms fully to The Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI) and DOAJ Open Access Definition. Authors, readers, and reviewers are free to Share ” copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, and Adapt ” remix, transform, and build upon the material. Author(s) retain unrestricted copyrights and publishing rights of their work. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Learn the details at the License policy.
How to Cite
