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Understanding the Impact of an International Service-Learning Trip to Belize on Mental Health: A Case Study of Students and Faculty

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Conference

2025 ASEE Southeast Conference

Location

Mississippi State University, Mississippi

Publication Date

March 9, 2025

Start Date

March 9, 2025

End Date

March 11, 2025

Conference Session

Professional Papers

Tagged Topics

Diversity and Professional Papers

Page Count

7

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/54198

Download Count

2

Paper Authors

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Amro Khasawneh Mercer University Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0003-3539-2473

biography

Sarah K. Bauer Mercer University

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Dr. Sarah Bauer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering at Mercer University. Her primary research interests include water and wastewater treatment and renewable energy technologies. Her work focuses on developing techniques for the production of clean energy and clean water. She has also worked on a variety of projects to enhance engineering education, including a project introducing the humanities into environmental engineering education through a National Endowment for the Humanities grant. She has worked on projects to develop activities for K-12 students, and is the founder and director of the SWEET (Society of Women Engineers: Engineers in Training) Outreach Program at Mercer University, funded by the Engineering Information Foundation (EiF). Her research and educational work have most recently been funded by the NSF, U.S. EPA, and the EiF. She currently serves as the Co-Faculty Advisor for Mercer University’s Student Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).

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Abstract

Traveling to a different country for a service-learning trip exposes individuals to new cultures, languages, and environments, which can have both positive and negative effects on mental health. This study examines the impact of such experiences on participants in the Mercer University International service-learning program, Mercer On Mission (MOM). While MOM offers trips to various countries annually, our focus is on a specific group of students and faculty who traveled to Belize. Participants completed the validated Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWB), a mental health and well-being survey, both before and after the trip. The PGWB assesses six dimensions of psychological well-being: self-acceptance, positive relationships with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth. Our paper summarizes the survey findings, tests for statistical significance in participants' general well-being, and discusses the details of the service-learning project to explore the potential reasons behind any observed changes in well-being.

Khasawneh, A., & Bauer, S. K. (2025, March), Understanding the Impact of an International Service-Learning Trip to Belize on Mental Health: A Case Study of Students and Faculty Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Southeast Conference , Mississippi State University, Mississippi. https://peer.asee.org/54198

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