Relationships between mental health, socioeconomic status and subjective social status in first-year students at four South African universities
type: CreativeWork
description: Background and Objective: First-year university students face many challenges during the transition to university. Some of these relate to their background and socio-demographic characteristics and others have to do with the characteristics of the universities they attend. South African first-year students may face even more challenges adjusting to university, which are linked to the country's Apartheid history. This study aimed to explore relationships between mental health, socioeconomic status and subjective social status in first-year students at four South African universities. In particular, the aims were to explore the role of subjective social status and resilience in predicting the adjustment, mental health and general health of first year university students. Method: Participants in the study (n=336) were South African first-year students who were enrolled in first year psychology courses at four universities. Two of the universities were historically advantaged, and two were historically disadvantaged. Data collection took the form an online survey as well as the distribution of printed questionnaires. A demographic questionnaire was used in addition to questionnaires, which measured students' quality of adjustment, mental health, general health, subjective social status, alcohol use and illicit substance use and resilience (Connor- Davidson Resiliency Scale). Results: A series of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that place of residence was an significant predictor of the quality of their adjustment to university (R 2 =.11). Results of the multiple regression analyses also indicated that resilience was a significant predictor of mental health (R 2 = .22) and a significant predictor of general health (R2 = .11) in the sample of first-year students. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance resilience can play in predicting students' mental and general health during the transition to university. It also highlights the fact that universit…
abstract: Background and Objective: First-year university students face many challenges during the transition to university. Some of these relate to their background and socio-demographic characteristics and others have to do with the characteristics of the universities they attend. South African first-year students may face even more challenges adjusting to university, which are linked to the country's Apartheid history. This study aimed to explore relationships between mental health, socioeconomic status and subjective social status in first-year students at four South African universities. In particular, the aims were to explore the role of subjective social status and resilience in predicting the adjustment, mental health and general health of first year university students. Method: Participants in the study (n=336) were South African first-year students who were enrolled in first year psychology courses at four universities. Two of the universities were historically advantaged, and two were historically disadvantaged. Data collection took the form an online survey as well as the distribution of printed questionnaires. A demographic questionnaire was used in addition to questionnaires, which measured students' quality of adjustment, mental health, general health, subjective social status, alcohol use and illicit substance use and resilience (Connor- Davidson Resiliency Scale). Results: A series of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that place of residence was an significant predictor of the quality of their adjustment to university (R 2 =.11). Results of the multiple regression analyses also indicated that resilience was a significant predictor of mental health (R 2 = .22) and a significant predictor of general health (R2 = .11) in the sample of first-year students. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance resilience can play in predicting students' mental and general health during the transition to university. It also highlights the fact that universit…
author: Fowler, Gillian
language: eng
date published: 2010
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:23:04Z
provider: University of Cape Town
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Department of Psychology

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14329