Logo image
Back
Developing and validating a university needs instrument to measure the psychosocial needs of university students
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Developing and validating a university needs instrument to measure the psychosocial needs of university students

Richard Tindle, Paola Castillo, Natalie Doring, Leigh Grant and Royce Willis
British Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol.92(4), pp.1550-1570
12/2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12515
PMID: 35586948
pdf
Developing and validating a university needs instrument to measure the psychosocial needs of university students765.13 kBDownloadView
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0,  Open Access
url
Developing and validating a university needs instrument to measure the psychosocial needs of university studentsView
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0,  Open

Related links

Metrics

85 File views/ downloads
37 Record Views
6 Times Cited - Web of Science

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

Source: InCites

Abstract

college students higher education psychological distress psychological needs university students Educational psychology Higher education
Background: University students are four times more likely to experience elevated levels of psychological distress compared to their peers. The psychosocial needs of university students are associated with high psychological distress, stressful life events, and academic performance. Our study focuses on developing a measure to help universities identify these psychosocial needs. Aims: The study aimed to develop and validate the factor structure of the University Needs Instrument and identify the relationship between psychosocial needs, psychological distress and academic performance among university students. Sample: Undergraduate university students (N = 511) currently studying at university. Method: Participants completed demographic questions, the University Needs Instrument and the Kessler-10 Psychological Distress scale. The University Needs Instrument comprises 30 items within six psychosocial factors (academic support, financial support, support from family, support from friends, practical support and emotional support), each consisting of five items. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis showed that all items significantly loaded on the six hypothesized factors. The hypothesized model was supported by the data displaying excellent model fit and psychometric properties. Our analysis determined that the UNI has strong internal consistency. The results also confirmed that university students' high levels of psychological distress and their academic performance may be affected by their psychosocial needs. Conclusions: Our findings have provided an initial validation of the UNI to help screen and identify the psychosocial needs of university students. This scale can be used to identify the appropriate psychosocial support that can be offered to students and in turn could help reduce their psychological distress, improve their psychosocial well-being and increase academic performance.

Details

Logo image