Content area
Full text
J Happiness Stud (2017) 18:505525
DOI 10.1007/s10902-016-9736-y
RESEARCH PAPER
Andrew Denovan1 Ann Macaskill2
Published online: 5 April 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016
Abstract Transition to university is stressful and successful adjustment is imperative for well-being. Historically research on transitional stress focussed on negative outcomes and ill health. This is the rst UK study applying a positive psychology approach to investigate the characteristics that facilitate adjustment among new university students. A range of psychological strengths conceptualised as covitality factors, shown individually to inuence the stress and subjective well-being (SWB) relationship were assessed among 192 rst year UK undergraduates in week three of their rst semester and again 6 months later. Path analyses revealed that optimism mediated the relationship between stress and negative affect (a component of SWB) over time, and academic self-efcacy demonstrated signicant relationships with life satisfaction and positive affect. Contrary to predictions, stress levels remained stable over time although academic alienation increased and self-efcacy decreased. Optimism emerged as a key factor for new students to adjust to university, helping to buffer the impact of stress on well-being throughout the academic year. Incorporating stress management and psycho-educational interventions to develop strengths is discussed as a way of promoting condence and agency in new students to help them cope better with the stress at university.
Keywords Positive psychology Stress Undergraduate students Well-being
& Andrew [email protected]
1 Department of Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University, 53 Bonsall St,
Manchester M15 6GX, UK
2 Department of Psychology, Shefeld Hallam University, Unit 8 Science Park, Shefeld S1 1WB, UK
http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s10902-016-9736-y&domain=pdf
Web End = http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s10902-016-9736-y&domain=pdf
Web End = Stress and Subjective Well-Being Among First Year UK Undergraduate Students
123
506 A. Denovan, A. Macaskill
1 Background
Historically British university students were an elite in terms of academic achievement, nancial position, and high levels of family support, with most coming from relatively afuent backgrounds, all of which are protective factors in terms of their ability to cope with the stress of university (Royal College of Psychiatrists 2011). As a result, there is little research on student stress until the 1990s (Humphrey et al. 1998). However, recent changes in university education in the UK have arguably increased student stress.
A government widening participation agenda has encouraged students from sectors of society...