scholarly journals Optimism and resilience among university students

Author(s):  
Rocio Gómez- Molinero ◽  
Antonio Zayas ◽  
Paula Ruíz-González ◽  
Rocio Guil

University life is full of stressful stimuli that can contribute to psychological distress and lower performance levels. Despite academic demands, university students also face new stressors, such as different social networks, financial changes, and adaptation to new family and social roles that may have a negative impact on their mental health (Pidgeon & Pickett, 2017). In this sense, resilience literature has gained acceptance explaining how some students successfully adapt to university life while others find great challenges. Since resilience has been defined as the ability to successfully adapt in the face of stress and adversity, it is important to determine what psychological factors contribute enhancing this resilience levels. One of the factors related to life adaptation is optimism, understood as the general expectancy of obtaining positive outcomes in the future (Scheier & Carver, 1985). Hence, the aim of this study is to study the relationship between optimism and resilience among a sample of university students in Spain.The sample was comprised of 132 students from the University of Cádiz (Spain). Participants were selected by quota sampling from first to last year of studies. The majority of students (72.5%) were female and average age was 21.71 (range = 18–48, SD = 3.75). Participants completed the Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale (Spanish version adapted by Novella, 2002) and Life Orientation Test (LOT-R Spanish version adapted by Ferrando, Chico & Tous).We performed hierarchical multiple regression analysis and obtained that optimism explained 25% of resilience among university students (R2 = .25, â = .49). No gender and age differences were observed. Thus, identifying the factors that influence students’ adjustment to university life can improve the targeting of interventions to improve university academic performance. Moreover, this research could contribute helping students to successfully face this life transition, increasing their well-being and life satisfaction levels and decreasing university absenteeism.

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 571-586
Author(s):  
Amreen . ◽  
Anila Amber Malik

The concept of psychological well-being and resilience shares common psychological features involved in positive human functioning. The theoretical dimensions of psychological well-being are deeply rooted in the philosophical approach to humanistic, existential, developmental, and clinical psychology. The present study was aimed to examine the predictable relationship of psychological well-being and resilience among undergraduate university students of Karachi. Secondly, it differentiates the functioning of male and female university students on the construct of psychological Well-being and resilience. The sample was comprised of 300 undergraduate students, purposively selected; with a mean age of 21.89 years belong to different universities of Karachi. The Scales of Psychological Well-being (Ryff, 1989) and The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (Connor & Davidson, 2003) were used as measures of this study. Findings indicated that psychological well-being was positive predictor of resilience. In the Scales of Psychological Well-being, the domain of autonomy and environmental mastery were the significant positive correlates of resilience. In addition, psychological well-being and resilience were found to be greater among female students as compared to male students. The findings of this study provide implications for positive education that enables students to robust their strengths and capabilities to increase their well-being and effective management of university life challenges.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. eaax2615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Whillans ◽  
Lucía Macchia ◽  
Elizabeth Dunn

How does prioritizing time or money shape major life decisions and subsequent well-being? In a preregistered longitudinal study of approximately 1000 graduating university students, respondents who valued time over money chose more intrinsically rewarding activities and were happier 1 year after graduation. These results remained significant controlling for baseline happiness and potential confounds, such as materialism and socioeconomic status, and when using alternative model specifications. These findings extend previous research by showing that the tendency to value time over money is predictive not only of daily consumer choices but also of major life decisions. In addition, this research uncovers a previously unidentified mechanism—the pursuit of intrinsically motivated activities—that underlies the previously observed association between valuing time and happiness. This work sheds new light on whether, when, and how valuing time shapes happiness.


Author(s):  
Rubén Trigueros ◽  
Ana M. Magaz-González ◽  
Marta García-Tascón ◽  
Antonio Alias ◽  
José M. Aguilar-Parra

The aim of this study was to validate and adapt the academic-resilience scale in the Spanish context. The study involved 2967 university students aged 18–33 (Mean, M = 23.65; Standard Deviation, SD = 2.57) from several universities in Andalusia (Spain). Exploratory and confirmatory factorial analyses revealed adequate adjustment rates for the new version of the scale showing the factorial structure invariant with respect to that generated. Three factors that integrate the scale obtained high correlation, internal consistency, and temporal stability. The Spanish version of the academic-resilience scale was shown to have adequate psychometric properties to measure academic resilience in the Spanish university context.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahrotur Rusyda Hinduan ◽  
Miryam Wedyaswari ◽  
Ilham Phalosa Reswara ◽  
Hari Setyowibowo

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic increased education-related distress among University students globally, including in Indonesia. Psychological factors, such as academic demands, limited opportunity to meet their peers, problematic use of technology, and domestic problems, influenced the well-being of the students, leading to poor academic performance. A mobile-based counseling application was developed to address the distress among University students. The application was meant to reach students living remotely to enable them to access psychological assistance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe a protocol aimed to evaluate the equivalence of the application when compared to the Treatment-As-Usual (TAU) in increasing the coping self-efficacy (CSE) and resilience of students as well as in decreasing their level of depression. A two-armed parallel randomized control non-inferiority trial will be conducted among approximately 430 students with selected academic problems. The participants will be randomly allocated into the TAU and the intervention groups. The primary and secondary outcomes will be measured by the Indonesian versions of the Coping Self-Efficacy (CSE) Scale, the Resilience Scale (RS-14), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The data will be collected at baseline, at the end of each session, and after 3 months. The outcomes will be analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVAs, intention-to-treat, and per-protocol analysis. If proven, the application will be used as an alternative media in helping the students.Clinical Trial Registration: Thailand Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR20200530001); Date of registration: May 28, 2020.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rubia Cobo-Rendón ◽  
Yaranay López-Angulo ◽  
María Victoria Pérez-Villalobos ◽  
Alejandro Díaz-Mujica

The beginning of university life can be a stressful event for students. The close social relationships that they can experience can have positive effects on their well-being. The objective of this paper is to estimate the effect of perceived social support on the changes of the hedonic and eudaimonic well-being of Chilean university students during the transition from the first to the second academic year. Overall, 205 students participated (63.90% men and 36.09% women) with an average age of 19.14 years (SD = 1.73), evaluated during their first academic year (2017) and the succeeding one (2018). For the evaluation of perceived social support, the Spanish version of the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire “MSPSS” was used, and PERMA-profiler was used to measure hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Changes through the time of hedonic well-being and social support and the correlations between the variables were analyzed. Changes in the perception of social support were analyzed according to four categories of hedonic well-being. The prediction of social support for eudaimonic well-being was evaluated. Results indicated that the perception of students’ social support did not change over time. Statistically significant differences were found in hedonic well-being scores in the two measurements, being significantly higher in the first measurement than in the second one. More than 50% of the participants presented a positive balance of affections. The perception of social support is associated with the two types of well-being. Students who had a high balance of affections had a greater perception of general social support than the groups of positive evolution of affections and a low balance of affections. In the case of the friends and family support dimensions, the perception in the high-balance group of affections concerning the low-scale group is greater. Improving the perception of social support increases the eudaimonic well-being of university students. The perception of support that students had during the beginning of their university life benefits their general well-being, which contributes to their mental health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra M. Rogowska ◽  
Dominika Ochnik ◽  
Cezary Kuśnierz ◽  
Monika Jakubiak ◽  
Astrid Schütz ◽  
...  

Abstract Background A cross-sectional study was performed to examine life satisfaction differences between university students from nine countries during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-national comparison of the association between life satisfaction and a set of variables was also conducted. Methods Participants in the study were 2349 university students with a mean age of 23 years (M = 23.15, SD = 4.66). There was a predominance of women (69.26%) and individuals studying at the bachelor level (78%). The research was conducted between May and July 2020 in nine countries: Slovenia (n=209), the Czech Republic (Czechia)(n=308), Germany (n=267), Poland (n=301), Ukraine (n=310), Russia (n=285), Turkey (n=310), Israel (n=199), and Colombia (n=153). Participants completed an online survey involving measures of satisfaction with life (SWLS), exposure to COVID-19, perceived negative impact of coronavirus (PNIC) on students' well-being, general self-reported health (GSRH), physical activity (PA), and some demographics (gender, place of residence, level of study). A one-way ANOVA was used to explore cross-national differences in life satisfaction. The χ2 independence test was performed separately in each country to examine associations between life satisfaction and other variables. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify life satisfaction predictors among a set of demographic and health-related variables in each of the nine countries. Results The level of life satisfaction varied between university students from the nine countries. The results for life satisfaction and the other variables differed between countries. Numerous associations were noted between satisfaction with life and several variables, and these showed cross-national differences. Distinct predictors of life satisfaction were observed for each country. However, poor self-rated physical health was a predictor of low life satisfaction independent of the country. Conclusions The association between life satisfaction and subjective assessment of physical health seems to be universal, while the other variables are related to cross-cultural differences. Special public health attention should be focused on psychologically supporting people who do not feel healthy.


2020 ◽  
pp. 216769682097069
Author(s):  
Carolina F. du Plessis ◽  
Tharina Guse ◽  
Graham A. du Plessis

During the transition from school to university, students are faced with many challenges to their well-being. This is especially true in resource constrained societies like South Africa. While there is extensive research linking well-being with gratitude, less is known qualitatively about what individuals are grateful for. A sample of 933 undergraduate students submitted gratitude lists, resulting in over 9,000 unique “gratitude items.” Thematic analysis revealed several prominent themes, such as gratitude for relationships, material resources, being at university, life and health, and, finally, religious gratitude. These themes are discussed in the context of the importance of family relationships in the lives of emerging adults, the core role played by the educational context, the importance of socioeconomic resources and the association between religion, gratitude, and well-being. Strengthening these resources and cultivating gratitude for these prominent targets of appreciation may support students in their developmental trajectory.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenza Capone ◽  
Leda Marino ◽  
Miriam Sang-Ah Park

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has led to the closure of schools and universities, which forced students to reorganize their daily and academic lives. The pandemic has thus impacted the well-being of students in various ways. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the perceived employability, self-efficacy, ambition, organizational commitment, and career planning of students, as well as mental well-being, student engagement, and academic burnout during the pandemic. A total of 269 Italian university students participated in an online questionnaire. Our results highlight that students experienced high levels of uncertainty about their employability and career planning. In contrast, however, they reported healthy levels of mental well-being and student engagement, high career ambitions, and strong self-efficacy, despite the impact of COVID-19. We suggested that intervention and supportive programs should be offered to students over the long term in order to minimize the negative impact of the pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Samson F. Agberotimi ◽  
Choja Oduaran

This study examined the moderating effect of self-esteem on the relationship between optimism and life satisfaction in final year university students. A correlational survey design was utilized. Two hundred and twenty-three university final year students of a Nigerian university consisting of 124 males and 99 females aged 24.67±2.56 participated in the study. Data were collected with a structured self-report questionnaire containing satisfaction with life scale (α = .82), Rosenberg self-esteem scale (α = .86), and life orientation test – revised (α = .79). Data were analyzed with SPSS v.23 at 0.05 significant level. Self-esteem significantly moderated the relationship between optimism and life satisfaction as indicated by a significant increase in proportion of the variance in life satisfaction when the interaction term between optimism and self-esteem was added to the regression model [ΔR2 = .03, ΔF (1, 219) = 7.26, p < .008, b = .188, t(220) = 2.69, p < .01]. It was concluded that the predictive impact of optimism on life satisfaction of university final year students is enhanced by their self-esteem; thus, students should be exposed to environment and program that promotes the development of high self-esteem and optimistic life orientation to enhance their well-being.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Amin Wani ◽  
Prof. Mahmood S. Khan

Pessimist Individuals see difficulty in every opportunity where as Optimists see opportunity in every difficulty. Taking into consideration these characteristics of Optimism and Pessimism, this study was designed to conduct on the samples of the Optimist and Pessimist subjects in order to ascertain the influence of Religiosity on Subjective Well-being. Using Purposive Sampling technique, 50 Optimist and 50 Pessimist Post Graduate students were selected with the help of Life Orientation Test–Revised (LOT-R) developed by Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, (1994). Religiosity and Subjective Well-being among Optimists and Pessimists were assessed on the basis of scores on Religiosity Scale developed by Deka and Broota, (1985) and Subjective Well-being Inventory (SUBI) developed by Sell and Nagpal (1992). Data was analyzed with the help of Simple Linear Regression. The first finding revealed that Religiosity appeared as a significant predictor of Subjective well-being among Optimists. It means that there is a significant positive correlation „R‟= .774 between Religiosity and Subjective Well-being among Optimists whereas, the second finding also revealed that Religiosity appeared as a significant predictor of Subjective Well-being among Pessimists. This indicates that there is also a significant positive correlation „R‟= .497 between Religiosity and Subjective Well-being among Pessimists. Since, the Optimists and Pessimists were found in maintaining good Subjective Well-being but the value of „R‟ in case of Optimists was found to be much higher. So as on the basis of the obtained results , it is discussed that the Optimists look into more favorable side in the face of events and anticipate best possible outcomes in their favor as compared to the Pessimist counterpart. It is suggested that one has to make efforts to be Optimist rather than Pessimist to conquer challenges in their life.


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