Citation

Blau G, DiMino J, DeMaria PA, Beverly C, Chessler M, Drennan R. J. Am. Coll. Health 2016; 64(8): 585-592.

Affiliation

Department of Risk Insurance & Healthcare Management , Temple University , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2016.1207645

PMID

27386740

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Comparing the mean levels of social connectedness and life satisfaction, and analyzing their relationship for 2 undergraduate samples, and testing for an increase in their means for a brief counseling sample. PARTICIPANTS: Between October 2013 and May 2015, 3 samples were collected: not-in-counseling (NIC; n = 941), initial counseling session (ICS; ie, triage session only; n = 168), and brief counseling (BC; ie, median of 4 additional counseling sessions; n = 28).

METHODS: Online surveys measuring demographic and background control variables, social connectedness, and life satisfaction.

RESULTS: NIC students exhibited higher social connectedness and life satisfaction than ICS students. Social connectedness significantly explained life satisfaction beyond controlled-for variables for both samples. There was a significant increase in social connectedness and life satisfaction for the BC sample.

CONCLUSIONS: Social connectedness is an important antecedent of life satisfaction for undergraduates. Brief counseling can increase transition students' social connectedness and life satisfaction.

Language: en