Adjustment, psychological well-being and mental health of first year students in a South African university

Abstract

The relationships among adjustment, psychological well-being, and the mental health of first year students in a South African university were assessed. We also determined if relationships differed between male and female students. Using a quantitative survey research design, 300 (Female = 219, Mean age = 20.66, SD = 2.54) students from a university in South Africa participated in the study using a convenient sampling strategy. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The model hypothesizing that adjustment and psychological well-being will predict mental health was supported. While the data fit the hypothesized model well, psychological adjustment, application adjustment, and college adjustment were significant predictors of anxiety, depression, and social dysfunction. Also, psychological well-being was a significant predictor of depression, anxiety, and social dysfunction. Two paths (college adjustment and anxiety, and psychological well-being and social dysfunction) were significantly different for both sexes.