Social supports among college students and measures of alcohol use, perceived stress, satisfaction with life, emotional intelligence, and coping

In this study I examined three domains of social supports among college students (close friends, casual friends and safe adults to turn to) in relation to indices of wellbeing and coping. Measures of positive wellbeing were most strongly associated with the safe adults domain of social support followed by the close friends domain of social support. Casual friends were associated only with measures of problem alcohol consumption but not with indices of wellbeing. Students with five or more safe adults to turn to as compared to four or fewer reported significantly lower perceived stress, greater satisfaction with life, higher emotional intelligence, better academic performance and lower problem drinking scores. The domain of safe adults was associated with the largest array of wellbeing indices of all three social support domains. Future research should examine additional measures of wellbeing that may be associated with distinct domains of support.

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Psychological Factors Influencing Life Satisfaction of Undergraduates

10.31234/osf.io/xdpfz ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Bukunmi O Adewumi ◽

Olubukola Ajayi

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Emotional Intelligence ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Significant Influence ◽

Psychological Factors ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Future Research ◽

Factors Influencing

This study was designed to assess the psychological factors influencing life satisfaction of undergraduates. The instruments used were Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS), Rosenberge Self-esteem Scale (RSS), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). A total number of 190 participants were purposively selected across various faculties in Ekiti State University. Four hypotheses were tested using Independent t-test to find the effects of perceived stress, emotional intelligence, and self-esteem on life satisfaction. Multiple regression was used to find the joint and individual influences of these variables. The results showed that there is no significant influence of perceived stress on life satisfaction (t (75) = 1.23, p = .22, 95% CI [-1.14, 4.83). There is no significant influence of self-esteem on life satisfaction (t (51) = -1.31, p = .20, 95% CI [-5.28, 1.11), and there is no significant joint influence of perceived stress, emotional intelligence and self-esteem on life satisfaction (F (3,187) = 1.79, p = .15, R2 =.03). Additionally, perceived stress (β = .07, p = .33), emotional intelligence (β = .14, p = 054) and self-esteem (β = .02, p = .83) did not have independent influences on life satisfaction. Implications of the present findings for future research are discussed, as well as potential interventions for improving life satisfaction.

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Motives for Alcohol and Marijuana Use as Predictors of Use and Problem Use Among Young Adult College Students

Journal of Drug Issues ◽

10.1177/0022042620917101 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 50 (4) ◽

pp. 359-377

Author(s):

Akilah Patterson ◽

Milkie Vu ◽

Regine Haardörfer ◽

Michael Windle ◽

Carla J. Berg

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Substance Use ◽

Young Adult ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Problem Drinking ◽

Marijuana Use ◽

Problem Alcohol Use ◽

And Coping ◽

Alcohol Users ◽

Problem Alcohol

This study examined (a) differences between alcohol-only users and alcohol–marijuana co-users and (b) motives for use in relation to alcohol and marijuana use and problem use. Spring 2016 data among 1,870 past 4-month alcohol users (63.6% female, 69.1% White) from seven Georgia colleges/universities were analyzed cross-sectionally and with regard to problem use measured 4 months later. Correlates of co-use ( n = 345; vs. alcohol-only use, n = 1,525) included greater alcohol and marijuana use frequency, problem drinking and marijuana use, and alcohol use motives ( p’s < .05). Controlling for covariates, alcohol use frequency correlated with greater marijuana use frequency and Coping and Self-enhancement alcohol use motives, but lower Conformity alcohol use motives ( p’s < .001); greater Coping and Self-enhancement alcohol use motives ( p’s < .01) predicted problem alcohol use. Marijuana use frequency correlated with greater Coping and Expansion marijuana use motives ( p’s < .05); greater Expansion marijuana use motives ( p = .005) predicted problem marijuana use. College-based substance use interventions should target Coping and Self-enhancement alcohol use motives and Expansion marijuana use motives.

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The influence of family therapy on psychological stress and social adaptability of depressed patients

Work ◽

10.3233/wor-213503 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Qinghua Chen ◽

Wenqing Zhao ◽

Qun Li ◽

Harnof Sagi

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

College Students ◽

Family Therapy ◽

Psychological Stress ◽

Life Events ◽

Coping Styles ◽

Stress And Coping ◽

Control Group ◽

Social Adaptability ◽

And Coping

BACKGROUND: with the increase of study and life pressure, the number of depressed college students showed an increasing trend year by year, and the drug treatment alone could not achieve a comprehensive recovery of depression patients, so it was more necessary to pay attention to the spiritual treatment. OBJECTIVE: this research aimed to better understand the relationship between college students’ depression and life events, social support, psychological pressure, and coping style, and the influence of systematic family therapy on depression degree, psychological stress, and social adaptability of college students with depression. METHODS: in this study, 105 college students with depression were selected as the research object, and healthy college students were taken as the control group. Through questionnaire, the differences in life events, social support, psychological stress, and coping styles between the groups were compared. The correlation between the degree of depression and various variables were analyzed, and the impact path of each variable on depression was analyzed using the path analysis model. Depression patients were then divided into a conventional group treating with conventional medications and an observation group treating with systematic family interventions. Differences in Hamilton Depression Scale-17, (HAMD-17), CPSS, and Social Adaptive Functioning Evaluation (SAFE) scores were compared and analyzed between the two groups before treatment (T1), during the treatment (T2), and after treatment(T3). RESULTS: there were significant differences in scores of life events, social support, psychological stress, and coping styles between the healthy control group and the depressed patients (P < 0.05). There was an obvious correlation between different depression degrees and life events, social support, psychological stress, and coping styles (P < 0.05). Life events, social support, and psychological stress had a direct and significant impact on depression (0.250, 0.218, and 0.392; P < 0.05), and they also had an indirect and significant impact on depression through coping styles (P < 0.05). The systematic family treatment model could significantly reduce HAMD-17 and CPSS scores (P < 0.05), and significantly improve SAFE scores (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: adverse life events, lack of social support, excessive psychological stress, and negative coping styles can aggravate college students’ depression. Systematic family therapy can improve the degree of depression, reduce the psychological stress, and enhance the social adaptability of college students with depression.

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Are Coping Strategies with Well-Being in Deaf and Blind Parents Related?

European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education ◽

10.3390/ejihpe11040102 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 1422-1439

Author(s):

Maria Luisa Indiana ◽

Elisabetta Sagone ◽

Salvatore Luciano Orazio Fichera

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Sensory Loss ◽

Future Research ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Deaf Parents

The main purpose of this cross-sectional study, carried out with deaf parents and blind parents, is to analyze the association of coping strategies, life satisfaction, well-being, and generalized self-efficacy, compared to a group of parents without a sensory loss. The Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced, Satisfaction with Life, Generalized Self-efficacy, and Psychological Well-Being scales were applied. Results indicate that: (1) deaf parents and blind parents search for social support, use avoidance, and turn to religion more than those without a sensory loss; (2) deaf parents are more satisfied with life than blind parents and those without a sensory loss; (3) deaf parents and blind parents perceive themselves as less efficacious than those without a sensory loss; (4) deaf parents and blind parents report lower psychological well-being (autonomy and personal growth) than those without a sensory loss, except for self-acceptance. Searching for social support and turning to religion are negatively associated with life satisfaction in deaf parents and those without a sensory loss; further, these coping strategies (together with avoidance) affect the psychological well-being of deaf parents and parents without a sensory loss. Future research could investigate deeper into the effects of these dimensions on well-being and the styles of parenting in these families.

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LOCKDOWN FATIGUE AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: PREDICTIVE ROLE OF PERSONAL RESILIENCE, COPING BEHAVIOURS, AND HEALTH

10.1101/2020.10.18.20213942 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Leodoro J. Labrague ◽

Cherry Ann Ballad

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

College Students ◽

Control Measure ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Personal Resilience ◽

And Coping ◽

Coping Behaviours

AbstractBackgroundThe lockdown measures imposed by many countries since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have been useful in slowing the transmission of the disease; however, there is growing concern regarding their adverse consequences on overall health and well-being, particularly among young people. To date, most studies have focused on the mental health consequences of the lockdown measures, while studies assessing how this disease control measure influences the occurrence of fatigue are largely absent.AimThe aims of this study are two-fold: (a) to examine the levels of lockdown fatigue, and (2) to determine the role of coping behaviours, personal resilience, psychological well-being and perceived health in fatigue associated to the lockdown measure.MethodsThis is an online cross-sectional study involving 243 college students in the Central Philippines during the sixth month of the lockdown measure implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Five standardised scales were used to collect the data.ResultsOverall, college students reported moderate levels of lockdown fatigue, with a mean score of 31.54 (out of 50). Physical exhaustion or tiredness, headaches and body pain, decreased motivation and increased worry were the most pronounced manifestations of fatigue reported. Gender and college year were identified as important predictors of fatigue. Increased personal resilience and coping skills were associated with lower levels of lockdown fatigue.ConclusionCollege students experience moderate levels of fatigue during the mandatory lockdown or home confinement period. Resilient students and those who perceive higher social support experience lower levels of fatigue during the lockdown period compared to students with low resilience and social support. Lockdown fatigue may be addressed by formulating and implementing interventions to enhance personal resilience and social support among college students.

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Abstract 14087: Psychosocial Determinants of Health Predict Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety in Rural Caregivers

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.142.suppl_3.14087 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer L Smith ◽

Misook L Chung ◽

Jennifer Miller ◽

Martha J Biddle ◽

Donna Schuman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Caregiver Burden ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Brief Symptom Inventory ◽

Determinants Of Health ◽

Future Research ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Rural Caregivers ◽

Increased Risk

Introduction: Caregivers have an 82% increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to non-caregivers. Depressive symptoms (DS) and anxiety increase CVD risk, and these are worse in rural dwellers. Knowing predictors of DS and anxiety in rural caregivers of patients with chronic illness is important to reduce CVD risk. Purpose: To identify predictors of DS and anxiety in rural caregivers at risk for CVD using a social determinants of health (SDH) model. Method: In this cross-sectional study we measured multiple SDH. These variables included sociodemographic (i.e., age, gender, race, marital status, health insurance, education, financial status), behavioral (i.e., smoking and body mass index [BMI]), and psychosocial (i.e., caregiver burden measured by the Zarit Burden Interview, perceived stress by the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, and social support by the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey) factors. The outcomes of DS were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and anxiety by the Brief Symptom Inventory – Anxiety subscale. Data were analyzed using two separate multiple regression models, one for DS and one for anxiety. As depression and anxiety are often comorbid, they were considered predictors in the appropriate models. Results: In the 262 participants (mean age 53±13, 78% female, 96% Caucasian, 70% were married), mean years of education were 14±2, 56.1% had enough money to make ends meet, and 55% had no insurance or Medicaid only. Significant predictors of worse DS were higher caregiver burden (β=0.05, p=0.004), higher perceived stress (β=2.04, p=0.001), and higher anxiety (β=3.79, p= <0.001). Predictors of worse anxiety, were younger age (β=-0.006, p=0.03), higher caregiver burden (β=0.006, p=0.009), lower social support (β=-0.004, p=0.05), and higher DS (β=0.08, p=<0.001). Conclusion: Predictors of DS and anxiety in these rural caregivers were psychosocial variables. Caregiver CVD Interventions could be optimized by including stress management, education about the psychological effects of caregiving, and social support components. Future research is needed on the role of DS and anxiety in CVD to better support rural caregivers at highest risk.

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Relationship Between Gender, Stress, and Quality of Social Support

Psychological Reports ◽

10.1177/0033294120939844 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 003329412093984 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Meredith Kneavel

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Internet Survey ◽

Support Network ◽

Tend And Befriend ◽

Gender And Age ◽

Males And Females ◽

And Gender ◽

And Coping

Background Research suggests that gender differences exist in both stress and how social support is utilized and that the relationship between stress and social support may not be linear. Methods An internet survey of n = 1080 participants was conducted evaluating quality and quantity of social support, gender, age, and perceived stress and coping. Results Reported quality of social support, gender, and age significantly predicted perceived stress and that there was a curvilinear interaction between the quality of social support and gender which significantly predicted perceived stress. Conclusion The current findings supported Taylor’s Tend and Befriend theory that females have higher reported stress levels, a larger support network, and report more quality in their social support. Practitioner points: • Males and females may manifest stress differently in their relationships. • When working with males and females in practice it may be important to understand the depth and breadth of their social networks and how they utilize those networks. • Females indicate higher levels of stress and greater social support quality. • It is important to understand that one’s social network can be an important source of support (a coping mechanism) but that it can also serve as a stressor in some cases.

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The Associations Among Social Support, Stress, and Life Satisfaction as Perceived by Injured College Athletes

Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal ◽

10.2224/sbp.2010.38.6.741 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 38 (6) ◽

pp. 741-752 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Romualdas Malinauskas

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

College Athletes ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Minor Injury ◽

Major Injury ◽

Severity Of Injury ◽

A Minor

The relationships were examined among severity of injury, and participants' perceptions of stress, social support, and life satisfaction. Participants were 123 college athletes (male, n = 69, female n = 54) with minor (69) or severe (54) injuries, who ranged in age from 18 to 25 years. Participants completed measures of perceived social support, stress, and satisfaction with life. Greater perceived stress was associated with diminished life satisfaction for athletes with a major injury more than for those with a minor injury. The interaction between perceived stress and perceived social support was associated most with diminished life satisfaction for participants with a major injury.

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Comparison of Coping, Stress, and Life Satisfaction Between Taiwanese and U.S. College Students

Journal of Mental Health Counseling ◽

10.17744/mehc.37.3.04 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 234-249 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Philip B. Gnilka ◽

Jeffrey S. Ashby ◽

Kenneth B. Matheny ◽

Y. Barry Chung ◽

Yuhsuan Chang

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Stress And Coping ◽

Coping Resources ◽

Taiwanese Women ◽

Taiwanese Men ◽

And Coping

Measures of coping resources, perceived stress, and life satisfaction were used to compare 120 Taiwanese men, 387 Taiwanese women, 114 U.S. women, and 264 U.S. men currently in college. While no differences were found in overall coping resources and perceived stress, U.S. students reported greater life satisfaction than Taiwanese students. Models for predicting life satisfaction from perceived stress and coping resources were significant for both genders within each country. Implications for counselors are discussed.

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Technology Use Among College Students: Implications for Student Affairs Professionals

NASPA Journal ◽

10.2202/0027-6014.1640 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Erin L Gemmill ◽

Michael Peterson

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

College Students ◽

College Student ◽

Student Affairs ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Technology Use ◽

Student Affairs Professionals ◽

Significant Problem

The purposes of this study were to explore the extent to which technology disrupts and occupies the time of a college student and to determine the degree to which these disruptions contribute to perceived stress. A 71-item survey to assess perceived stress, technology use and disruptions, and social support was administered to 299 undergraduate students. The results indicate 25% of participants have problems with disruptions from technology, and more disruptions from technology are related to higher levels of perceived stress. Experiencing disruptions from technology is a significant problem among college students and needs to be addressed by student affairs professionals.

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