Adjusting to College: Do Ability Beliefs and Social Support Matter for Mental Health and Performance?

• In Event: Transitional Experiences Into and Through College

Abstract

The first months at college can be challenging, as students are required to adjust to new academic and social environments. Students’ mental health and high dropout rates in early years continue to be a large concern. Building on theoretical frameworks on psychological well-being and college adjustment, we investigate how social support and ability beliefs predict psychological distress and performance after the first quarter of students’ freshman year. We used data (N = 239) from a longitudinal study at a public university. Ability beliefs predicted students’ performance and were associated with students’ satisfaction with their college adjustment. Students who perceived higher social support by faculty were more satisfied with their adjustment process and reported lower psychological distress after their first quarter.

Authors

• Luise von Keyserlingk, Technische Universität Dortmund

• Julia Moeller, Universität Leipzig

• Jutta Heckhausen, University of California - Irvine

• Richard B. Arum, University of California, Irvine

• Jacquelynne S. Eccles, University of California - Irvine