TY - JOUR
T1 - University Students' Life Stressors and Mental Health in Georgia and German-Speaking Switzerland
T2 - Exploring the Role of Fatalism, Sense of Coherence, Cross-Cultural Coping, and Help-Seeking
AU - Bachem, Rahel
AU - Makhashvili, Nino
AU - Maercker, Andreas
AU - Javakhishvili, Jana Darejan
AU - Aeschlimann, Anaïs
AU - Pilauri, Ketevan
AU - Latibashvili, Tekla
AU - Levin, Yafit
AU - Shengelia, Natia
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Hogrefe Publishing.
PY - 2023/7
Y1 - 2023/7
N2 - Background: The university years are associated with a variety of stressors, and recently, COVID-19 has presented an additional burden on students mental well-being. As mental health manifestations of stressors may differ between countries, this study compared students from Switzerland and the Republic of Georgia regarding the burden of stressors and the role of potentially culture-dependent risk and protective factors of mental health (i.e., help-seeking, cross-cultural coping, fatalism, sense of coherence). Method: We assessed two samples of university students in Georgia (N = 425) and German-speaking Switzerland (N = 298), using a cross-sectional design. Quantitative data were collected with online questionnaires during the third wave of the pandemic. Mental health screenings included measures of depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder. Results: General life- and COVID-19-related stress levels were higher in Georgia than in Switzerland. Georgian students experienced more adjustment disorder symptoms but lower levels of depression and anxiety. While Swiss students reported more protective factors (formal and informal help-seeking, sense of coherence), Georgian students experienced more risk factors (fatalism and avoidance coping). Despite significant correlations between potentially culture-dependent risk and protective factors and mental health, few associations remained significant above and beyond the impact of general life stress. Conclusions: The high prevalence of stressors and adjustment disorder symptoms and risk factors for mental health among Georgian students illustrates a potential need for psychosocial support with stress management. The cross-cultural applicability of Western models of student mental health services should be evaluated.
AB - Background: The university years are associated with a variety of stressors, and recently, COVID-19 has presented an additional burden on students mental well-being. As mental health manifestations of stressors may differ between countries, this study compared students from Switzerland and the Republic of Georgia regarding the burden of stressors and the role of potentially culture-dependent risk and protective factors of mental health (i.e., help-seeking, cross-cultural coping, fatalism, sense of coherence). Method: We assessed two samples of university students in Georgia (N = 425) and German-speaking Switzerland (N = 298), using a cross-sectional design. Quantitative data were collected with online questionnaires during the third wave of the pandemic. Mental health screenings included measures of depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder. Results: General life- and COVID-19-related stress levels were higher in Georgia than in Switzerland. Georgian students experienced more adjustment disorder symptoms but lower levels of depression and anxiety. While Swiss students reported more protective factors (formal and informal help-seeking, sense of coherence), Georgian students experienced more risk factors (fatalism and avoidance coping). Despite significant correlations between potentially culture-dependent risk and protective factors and mental health, few associations remained significant above and beyond the impact of general life stress. Conclusions: The high prevalence of stressors and adjustment disorder symptoms and risk factors for mental health among Georgian students illustrates a potential need for psychosocial support with stress management. The cross-cultural applicability of Western models of student mental health services should be evaluated.
KW - cross-cultural differences
KW - fatalism
KW - help-seeking
KW - sense of coherence
KW - student mental health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85149554551&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1027/2157-3891/a000067
DO - 10.1027/2157-3891/a000067
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AN - SCOPUS:85149554551
SN - 2157-3883
VL - 12
SP - 164
EP - 174
JO - International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation
JF - International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation
IS - 3
ER -