Skip to main content
Log in

Mapping Variables Related to Social Identity, Distress and Perceived Health in an Undergraduate Student Population

  • Published:
Social Psychology of Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The relationship between students’ levels of self-categorisation or identification with their university, their problem-solving style, perceived social support, psychological distress and self-reported illness was investigated in a sample of 269 students (181 females and 88 males). Structural equation modelling shows that problem-solving style, perceived social support, and strength of identity, are the best predictors of both distress and illness, while sex, sex-type, age and year of study also account for small, but significant percentages of the variance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ashmore, R. (1990). Sex, gender and the individual. In L. Pervin (Ed.), Handbook of personality: theory and research. New York: Guildford; pp. 486–521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banks, M.H. (1983). Validation of the General Health Questionnaire in a young community sample. Psychological Medicine, 13, 349–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banks, M.H. & Jackson, P.R. (1982). Unemployment and the risk of minor psychiatric disorder in young people: Cross sectional and longitudinal evidence. Psychological Medicine 12, 789–798.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banks, M.H., Clegg, C.W., Jackson, P.R, Kemp, N.J., Stafford, E.M., & Wall, T.D. (1980). The use of the General Health Questionnaire as an indicator of mental health in occupational studies. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 53, 187–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Battistich, V., Solomon, D., Kim, D.I., Watson, M. et al. (1995). Schools as communities, poverty levels of student populations, and students' attitudes, motives, and performance: A multilevel analysis. American Educational Research Journal, 32(3), 627–658.

    Google Scholar 

  • Begley, T.M. & Czajka, J.M. (1993). Panel analysis of the moderating effects of commitment on job satisfaction, intent to quit, and health following organisational change. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78(4), 552–556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bem, S.L. (1974). The measurement of psychological androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42, 165–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bem, S.L. (1981). Gender schema theory: A cognitive account of sex typing. 88, 354–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bem, S.L. (1985). Androgyny and gender schema theory: A conceptual and empirical integration. Nebraska Symposium on Motivation, vol. 32. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press; pp. 179–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Billings, A.G. & Moos, R.H. (1981). The role of coping responses and social resources in attenuating the stress of life events. Journal of Behavioural Medicine, 4, 139–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burt, C.D.B. (1993). Concentration and academic ability following transition to university: An investigation of the effects of homesickness. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 13(4), 333–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cannings, K. (1992). The voice of the loyal manager: Distinguishing attachment from commitment. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 5(3), 261–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cassidy, T. & Burnside, E. (1996). Cognitive appraisal, vulnerability and coping: An integrative analysis of appraisal and coping mechanisms. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 9(3), 261–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cassidy, T. & Long, C. (1996). Problem-solving style, stress and psychological illness: D of a multifactorial measure. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 35, 265–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S. & Wills, T.A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Bulletin, 98, 310–357.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Compas, B. & Wagner, B. (1991). Psychosocial stress during adolescence: Intrapersonal and interpersonal processes. In M. Colten & S. Gore (Eds.), Adolescent stress: Causes and consequences. New York: Aldine de Gruyter; pp. 165–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dutton, J.E., Dukerich, J.M., & Harquail, C.V. (1994). Organisational images and member identification. Administrative Science Quarterly, 39(2), 239–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frable, D.E.S. (1997). Gender, racial, ethnic, sexual, and class identities. Annual Review Psychology, 48, 139–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frydenberg, E. & Lewis, R. (1993). Boys play sports and girls turn to others: Age, gender and ethnicity as determinants of coping. Journal of Adolescence, 16, 253–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, D. (1972). The detection of psychiatric illness by questionnaire. London: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halpern, D. (1996). Mental health and the built environment. London: Taylor & Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heath, P.L., Skok, R.L., & McLaughlin, T.F. (1991). A proposed community college student retention model. College Student Journal, 25(1), 506–514.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heaven, P.C.L. (1996). Adolescent health: The role of individual differences. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogg, M.A. & Abrams, D. (1990). Social motivation, self-esteem and social identity. In D. Abrams & M.A. Hogg (Eds.), Social Identity Theory. London. Harvester/Wheatsheaf; pp. 28–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karasawa, M. (1991). Towards an assessment of social identity: The structure of group identification and its effects on in-group evaluation. British Journal of Social Psychology, 30(4), 293–307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R.S. & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal and coping. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leong, C.S., Furnham, A., & Cooper, C.L. (1996). The moderating effect of organisational commitment on the occupational stress outcome relationship. Human Relations, 49(10), 1345–1363.

    Google Scholar 

  • Littrell, P.C., Billingsley, B.S., & Cross, L.H. (1994). The effects of principal support on special and general educators' stress, job satisfaction, school commitment, health, and intent to stay in teaching. Remedial and Special Education, 15(5), 297–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lounsbury, J.W. & DeNeui, D. (1996). Collegiate psychological sense of community in relation to size of college/university and extroversion. Journal of Community Psychology, 24(4), 381–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maccoby, E.E. & Jacklin, C.N. (1974). The psychology of sex differences. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mael, F.A. & Tetrick, L.E. (1992). Identifying organisational identification. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 52(4), 813–824.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nezu, A.M., Nezu, C.M., & Perri, M.G. (1989). Problem-solving therapy for depression: Theory, research and clinical guidelines. Wiley: Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, A.C., Compas, B.E., Brooks-Gunn, J., Stemmler, M., Ey, S., & Grant, K.E. (1993). Depression during adolescence. American Psychologist, 48, 155–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pretty, G.M.H., McCarthy, M.E., & Catano, V.M. (1992). Psychological environments and burnout: Gender considerations within the corporation. Journal of Organisational Behaviour, 13(7), 701–711.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reilly, N.P. (1994). Exploring a paradox: Commitment as a moderator of the stressor-burnout relationship. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 24(5), 397–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Royal, M.A. & Rossi, R.J. (1996). Individual level correlates of sense of community: Findings from workplace and school. Journal of Community Psychology, 24(4), 395–416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarason, B.R., Sarason, I.G., & Pierce, G.R. (1990). Social support: An interactional view. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, B., Gunnarson, S.K., & Niles-Jolly, K. (1994). Creating the climate and culture of success. Organisational Dynamics, 23(1), 17–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shouksmith, G. (1994). Variables related to organisational commitment in health professionals. Psychological Reports, 74(3), 707–711.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, D., Watson, M., Battistich, V., Schaps, E. et al. (1996). Creating classrooms that students experience as communities. American Journal of Community Psychology, 24(6), 719–748.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stafford, E.M., Jackson, P.R., & Banks, M.H. (1980). Employment, work involvement, and mental health in less qualified young people. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 53, 291–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stroebe, W. & Stroebe, M.S. (1995). Social psychology and health. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tajfel, H. & Turner, J.C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In S. Worchel & W.G. Austin (Eds.), The social psychology of intergroup relations. Monterey, CA: Brooks-Cole; pp. 101–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thoits, P. (1995). Identity-relevant events and psychological symptoms: A cautionary tale. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, 36, 72–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J.C. (1985). Social categorisation and the self concept: A social-cognitive theory of group behaviour. In E.J. Lawlor (Ed.), Advances in group processes: Theory and Research, vol 2. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press; pp. 106–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weidner, G., Kohlmann, C.W., Dotzauer, E., & Burns, L.R. (1996). The effects of academic stress on health behaviours in young adults. Anxiety, Stress and Coping, 9(2), 123–133.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cassidy, T. Mapping Variables Related to Social Identity, Distress and Perceived Health in an Undergraduate Student Population. Social Psychology of Education 7, 339–352 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:SPOE.0000037504.24380.b3

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:SPOE.0000037504.24380.b3

Keywords

Navigation