Factors associated with the psychological well-being and distress of university students.
OBJECTIVE
Because of the serious nature of psychiatric illness and related problems, the authors attempted to identify demographic, individual, and behavioral factors linked to university students' psychological health.


METHODS
They surveyed 353 (60.9% female) predominantly Caucasian (88.7%) university students attending a large public university.


METHODS
The authors used a self-report questionnaire including valid and reliable psychometric instruments for all study variables. They conducted multiple regression analyses to examine associations among study variables using a cross-sectional design.


RESULTS
More favorable health states (ie, greater psychological well-being and less distress) were positively associated with optimism, health values, and religiousness and were negatively associated with spirituality and number of sexual partners.


CONCLUSIONS
Results demonstrated that multiple protective and risk factors contribute to the psychological well-being and distress of university students. Health promotion practitioners should adopt strategies that strengthen the personality characteristics and values associated with university students' psychological health.
Burris
Jessica L
JL
Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0044, USA.
Brechting
Emily H
EH
Salsman
John
J
Carlson
Charles R
CR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012067:Religion; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult