Reducing psychological distress and improving students well-being and academic self-efficacy: the effectiveness of a cognitive university counselling service for clinical and non-clinical situations

Psychodynamic university counseling: which factors predict psychological functioning after intervention?

Introduction

University counseling centers represent important resources for personal development, and students are increasingly turning to them for help. The present study aimed at, first, evaluating changing in psychological functioning before and after a university counseling intervention and, second, exploring which psychological variables predicted the intervention outcome.

Methods

For this purpose, 122 students who attended university counseling services were administered measures to assess personality traits, and measures to assess state variables - intended as contextual, rather than stable, alterations in functioning - such as anxiety, hopelessness and depression. Several Linear Mixed Models were performed to measure the differences between OQ-45 scores before and after the intervention (one for each OQ dimension and OQ total score); then, two steps of multiple regression analyses were performed.

Results

Significative reductions between pre-test and post-test OQ-45 scores were found, highlighting increased levels of well-being; personality traits seem not to be predictive of the intervention outcome, while state variables significantly contribute to the psychological wellbeing improvement after counseling intervention.

Discussion

Our findings highlight the importance of paying attention to the role of affective difficulties in predicting the counseling effectiveness.

Supporting students with empathy: the association between empathy and coping strategies in pre-clinical medical students

How medical students cope with stress predicts their mental health and academic/clinical performances, making the promotion of functional copy strategies a relevant outcome for medical educators. Empathy has been reported to be connected with coping. This study wanted to explore the most used coping strategies and whether gender differences existed, and to investigate whether and to what extent empathy affected coping in a sample of pre-clinical medical students. In a cross-sectional study design, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and the Coping Orientations to the Problems Experienced - New Italian Version (COPE-NIV) were administered to 398 (53% females) Italian second-year medical students. T-tests and multiple regression analyses were used to explore gender differences and the association between IRI and COPE-NIV scores, respectively. Problem Orientation obtained the highest mean score, whereas Avoidance the lowest one. Females outscored males on Social Support (t = 4.95, p < .001) and Transcendent Orientation (t = 4.04, p < .001). After controlling for gender, Empathic Concern was positively associated with Social Support (β = 0.223, p = .001) and Transcendent Orientation (β = 0.234, p = .001). Perspective Taking was positively and negatively associated with Positive Attitude (β = 0.248, p < .001) and Transcendent Orientation (β = − 0.180, p = .008), respectively. Personal Distress was negatively related to Problem Orientation (β = − 0.250, p < .001). Educational and psychological counselling interventions targeting empathy should be implemented in the pre-clinical years to equip medical students to cope functionally with the emotional distress linked to medical school.

Responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency: The usefulness of an online brief psychological intervention with Italian university students

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about new stressors on university students, with a negative impact on their mental health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of a brief psychodynamically oriented intervention on general functioning by investigating changes in symptoms of depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and burnout. The sample was comprised of 67 university students (22.4% males), with a mean age of 23.27 (standard deviation (SD) = 3.27), who asked for psychological help at a psychological university service. Pre- and posttreatment data showed a significant improvement in general functioning and symptom reduction due to the psychological intervention. The mean change was very high for depression (d = 1.11) and high for general functioning (d = 0.70) and anxiety (d = 0.69). Our findings showed the importance of considering university students a vulnerable population that requires specific services within the university context and underlined the fact that mental-health-promotion policies should be extensively implemented.

Validation of the “Study-Anxiety” Questionnaire: a scale for the initial assessment of university students seeking psychological help

Students can turn to university counseling services for several reasons, ranging from study-related to emotional issues; yet, few instruments assess both dimensions. This study examines the validity of the “Study-Anxiety” Questionnaire (SAQ), a measure evaluating study strategies, motivation and anxiety in students seeking psychological help. Two samples of students (Sample 1 and 2, n = 910, Mage = 22.78, SD = 2.6) completed the SAQ only, while a third sample (Sample 3, n = 100, Mage = 23.22, SD = 2.3) also filled measures of self-regulated learning and anxiety. Exploratory factor analysis on Sample 1 indicated a 4-factor structure (cognitive and behavioral study strategies, motivation, and anxiety), confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis on Sample 2. The four factors presented satisfactory internal consistency; sex invariance was supported, as well as convergent validity with measures of SRL and anxiety. Overall, SAQ emerged as a reliable measure to capture academic and emotional difficulties.

Assessment of Subjective Well-Being in a Cohort of University Students and Staff Members: Association with Physical Activity and Outdoor Leisure Time during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Time spent outdoors and physical activity (PA) promote mental health. To confirm this relationship in the aftermath of COVID-19 lockdowns, we explored individual levels of anxiety, depression, stress and subjective well-being (SWB) in a cohort of academic students and staff members and tested their association with sport practice, PA at leisure time and time spent outdoors. Our cross-sectional study collected data during the COVID-19 outbreak (April−May 2021) on 939 students and on 238 employees, who completed an online survey on sociodemographic and lifestyle features, depression, anxiety, stress, and SWB. Results showed that the students exhibited higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, and lower levels of SWB (p < 0.001 for all domains) compared to the staff members. Correlation analysis confirmed that PA and time spent in nature were associated to high mental health scores among staff and, more consistently, among students. Finally, mediation analyses indicated that the time spent in nature, social relationships, and levels of energy play a mediator role in the relationship between sport practice and SWB. Our evidence reinforces the protective role of time spent in nature in improving mental health, and provides support for policymakers to make appropriate choices for a better management of COVID-19 pandemic consequences.

'Five hours to sort out your life': qualitative study of the experiences of university students who access mental health support

BACKGROUND

Previous qualitative research suggests that university students feel that current service provision does not meet their needs. Exploring the reasons for this may help to promote service change, encourage the uptake of care, improve outcomes and increase satisfaction within university services.

AIMS

This study aimed to improve the understanding of how students experience the process of accessing and using mental health support, barriers and facilitators to treatment, and how students would adapt provision to improve experiences.

METHOD

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 full-time students who had used mental health services at university. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Five higher-order themes were identified: personalisation and informed choice, simplifying the process, feeling abandoned ignored or invisible, stigma, and superiority of private and external services. Sixteen subthemes were identified within these themes.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings indicate that access to mental health support should be simplified, with collaboration across university and external health and care services, to prevent students feeling lost or abandoned when seeking care. An inclusive approach to support access and provision of services for all presentations of mental health problems should be developed.