title: Sense of coherence and hardiness as predictors of the mental health of college students.
abstract: Psychological distress has a deleterious impact on the mental health of college students. The purpose of this study was to specify a theoretical, sense of coherence, and hardiness-based regression model to predict the mental health of college students. The instruments employed to build the model included the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale K-6, the Sense of Coherence-29, and the College Student Hardiness Measure. Data were collected from a sample of college students (n = 220) attending a Midwestern university. Each of the theoretical predictors regressed on mental health was deemed significant. Collectively, the significant predictors produced an R2 adjusted value of 0.434 (p < 0.001), suggesting the final specified model explained 43.4% of the variance in mental health in the sample of participants. Qualitative cut-points were developed for each scale to aid in measurement of health promotion and education interventions designed to improve the mental health of college students.
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. knowldam@email.uc.edu
authors.forename: Adam P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Knowlden
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Amar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanekar
authors.forename: Ashutosh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atri
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities